Ethnic Conflict, State Reform, and Nation-Building in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The nature of Sri Lanka's state and its relationship with various components of the nation has been the subject of a long-standing tradition of scholarship and commentary-both academic and popular. Aspects of the nation thus examined include religion, ethnicity, bureaucratic and ruling elites, castes, classes, colonialism and independence, international relations, development, and now peace and conflict. Both the nation and the state have been changing their character during the last few decades. Despite broad and fundamental changes in society and culture, however, certain aspects of the traditional values, habits, practices and customs still continue. There is also a high degree of hybridization in these as well as the key institutions coming under the state. Recently, those writing about Sri Lanka have commented on the multiple crises facing the nation, in particular its state.