Page 189 - RUICHSS 2023 Proceeding

University of Ruhuna ISSN: 2706-0063
Matara, Sri Lanka

and heritage. However, the religious landscape of Sri Lanka has undergone

significant changes over the past few centuries, due in large part to the impact
of colonialism. The Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial powers that ruled

Sri Lanka each had a distinct impact on the country's religious identity,

shaping the beliefs and practices of different communities and creating a
divided religious landscape.

While there has been extensive scholarship on the impact of colonialism on

Sri Lanka, there is a need for a more comprehensive and nuanced

understanding of the effects of colonialism on the country's religious
landscape and its consequences for inclusivity. This paper seeks to address

this gap in the literature by examining the influence of colonialism on the
religious identity of Sri Lanka and its impact on the ability of different

religious communities to coexist in a pluralistic and inclusive society.

2. Research Problem

The research problem or knowledge gap for this study can be identified

through a combination of factors and considerations.

Historical context: Sri Lanka has a rich history with a diverse religious

landscape that includes Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity.
Understanding how these religions coexist and how their interactions have

evolved over time is an important area of study.

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