Resource Library

Where Have All the Neighbours Gone?

Aluthgama Riots and its Aftermath. A Fact Finding Mission to Aluthgama, Darga Town Valipanna and Beruwela

Author : Haniffa, H., Amarasooriya, H., Wijenyake, V., Gunatilleke, G.

Publisher: Law and Society Trust (LST)

Place of Publish: Sri Lanka, Colombo

Page Numbers: 128

Acc. No: 4998

Class No: 303.6 WHE-SL

Category: Books & Reports

Subjects: Conflict

Type of Resource: Monograph

Languages: English

This is a report of an investigation carried out by the Law & Society Trust in June 2014 based on the anti-Muslim violence in Aluthgama, Dharga Town, Valipanna and Beruwela. This is an account of what happened in aforesaid sites and has been framed and analysed from a perspective that prioritises Sri Lanka's potential for democracy and pluralism during one of its darkest hours. The research team which engaged in this endeavor was selected for their proven commitment of pluralism and democracy. The research team was led by Dr. Farzana Haniffa (Senior Lecturer in Anthropology, University of Sri Lanka), Dr. Harini Amarasuriya (Senior Lecturer in Anthropology, Open University of Sri Lanka) and Vishakha Wijenayake (Assistant Lecturer, Department of Law, University of Jaffna). The actual sites where the devastating incident had been taken place were visited by the research team.This report articulates the evidence of the actual event as witnessed by the people from both communities. The research team was able to confront public officials, community leaders and also collected public statements made by politicians both inside and outside Parliament. This study also addresses important areas as the anti-Muslim sentiment propagated after the government forces' military victory in 2009, role played by the Sinhala Buddhist nationalist movements in the post-war Sri Lanka, the trigger event which caused the widespread tension and also attempts to document the consequences to the affected communities. It is also argued in this report that, the event presents evidence of an orchestrated attack on a community consisting mostly Muslims but that included a small portion of Sinhalese as well, and that the attacks and the consequences victimized both communities.