Sri Lanka is an ethnically and religiously diverse country but has had a history of intercommunal violence, most recently heightened in the decade following the end of a civil war in 2009. Conflict among the various ethnic and religious groups has remained at a heightened level in recent years impacting political, social, and economic life in the country, including freedom of religion or belief. Although Sri Lanka is not currently among the countries designated as a Country of Particular Concern or included on the State Department’s Special Watch List, USCIRF has documented a number of the country’s deteriorating religious freedom conditions.

Associate Professor of Anthropology at Stanford University Sharika Thiranagama joins us today to provide background on Sri Lanka’s religious communities and to discuss the impact recent political and economic developments have had on religious freedom in the country.

Read USCIRF’s 2021 Country Update on Sri Lanka

With Contributions from:

Dwight Bashir, Director of Outreach and Policy, USCIRF

Zack Udin, Researcher, USCIRF

Dylan Schexnaydre, Victims List and Outreach Specialist, USCIRF