Page 199 - RUICHSS 2023 Proceeding

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

comprehensive understanding of historical legacies and structural factors to

address the challenges of religious diversity and promote inclusivity in
contemporary Sri Lanka. Your research aims to contribute to this ongoing

conversation by highlighting the urgency of adopting a more equitable

approach to religious diversity and fostering a harmonious society that
respects the rights of all religious communities.

7. Results and Findings

When the British took control of Sri Lanka in 1815 AD, they were quick to
introduce Christian missionary efforts in the form of Christian churches and

mission schools, which led to tensions between the missionaries and the
traditional population as well as laws like the Kandyan Marriage Ordinance,

which prohibited Christian converts from marrying Hindus or Buddhists (De
Silva 1981: 45). The most extreme example of British control over the

religious beliefs of the Sri Lankan people was the establishment of the Ceylon

Civil Code in 1832 (Pieris 1992: 112). It specified that "any Christian marriage
shall be deemed valid," while any other form of marriage was not. This severe

form of regulation effectively outlawed many traditional marital practices,

such as Hindu ceremonies and marriage rites (Ibid. 115).

In order to restore the damage done to native religious communities in Sri
Lanka and the declining appreciation of cultural uniqueness and tradition,

authorities must promote the main native language and unite various religious
communities under one language, just like in America, where various ethnic
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