Sinhalese Buddhist nationalist ideology commands broad popular support in Sri Lanka

Evidence

In postindependence Sri Lanka, numerous extremist Sinhalese organizations have mobilized against the devolution of power to the Tamils. These groups support political Buddhism even as they manipulate Buddhism. They most certainly are among the protagonists promoting the nationalist ideology. The three most prominent political parties in this regard are the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (People’s Liberation Front—JVP), the Sinhala Urumaya (Sinhala Heritage Party—SU), and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (National Sinhalese Heritage Party—JHU). — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 157 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

The link between the Sinhala race and Buddhism is so close and inseparable that it had led to the maxim, “There is no Buddhism without the Sinhalese and no Sinhalese without Buddhism.” This is an undeniable fact. … The literature of the Sinhalese is Buddhist literature. The history of the Sinhalese is the history of Buddhism. The language of the Sinhalese is enriched by the doctrine of the Buddha. The era of the Sinhalese is the Buddha era. The culture of the Sinhalese is Buddhist culture. The flag of the Sinhalese is the Sinhala Buddhist flag. — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 193 (#expands, via linked claim)

Monks justify Buddhism’s privileged status by arguing that Hindus control India, Muslims the Middle East, and Christians the West, whereas Buddhists have only tiny Sri Lanka. The National Sangha Council also has encouraged the armed forces to disobey civilian leadership if the main political parties pursue negotiations with the LTTE. Indeed, some monks have threatened to go house to house to prevent devolution from being instituted, and some have even defrocked themselves to serve in the army as foot soldiers. With President Rajapakse equating service to the sangha with service in the military (Bandara 2007), it would not be surprising if more monks took to the gun. — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 153 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Rajapakse government endorsed nationalist ideology and resisted power devolution; Sinhalese nationalist identity is constructed as inseparable from Buddhism — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist…, 193; Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism rests on a foundational belief in Buddhist sufferance toward minorities (+9 more)

Related

• Extremist Sinhalese parties weaponized Buddhism against Tamil devolution (similarity 0.90)
• A majoritarian Sinhalese Buddhist nationalist ethos is now broadly accepted across Sri Lankan society (similarity 0.89)
• Sinhalese monks frame Buddhism’s status through territorial threat perception (similarity 0.88)
• Sinhalese Buddhist identity is constructed through mythic history rather than primordial descent. (similarity 0.88)
• Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism rests on a foundational belief in Buddhist sufferance toward minorities (similarity 0.88)
• Sinhalese Buddhist extremists define legitimate Sri Lankan identity as exclusively Sinhalese Buddhist (similarity 0.88)
• The nationalist ideology is broadly accepted even by non-nationalist Buddhists (similarity 0.88)
• The intolerant faction of Buddhism triumphed over the tolerant one in Sri Lanka’s sangha. (similarity 0.87)
• Nationalist framing presents the island as exclusively Sinhala Buddhist (similarity 0.87)
• Sinhalese political Buddhism emerged as a protest against Christian and Western dominance. (similarity 0.87)
• Sinhalese nationalist claims rest on chronicle authority and a myth of paternalistic tolerance. (similarity 0.87)
• Some Sinhalese nationalist writers publicly endorse genocide against Tamils (similarity 0.87)
• Sinhalese Buddhist nationalist ideology frames dissenters as enemies of the state. (similarity 0.87)
• Buddha’s mythic visits legitimize Sinhalese supremacy by subjugating indigenous beings (similarity 0.87)
• Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism will persist and could expand to other minorities (similarity 0.87)

Broader Connections

• Sinhalese nationalist identity is constructed as inseparable from Buddhism #expands (0.80) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 193
• Extremist Sinhalese parties weaponized Buddhism against Tamil devolution #exemplifies (0.80) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 157
• Sinhalese monks frame Buddhism’s status through territorial threat perception #corroborates (0.78) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 153
• Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism rests on a foundational belief in Buddhist sufferance toward minorities #complicates (0.75)
• Sinhalese nationalists co-opt Tamils who subordinate Tamil grievances to the nationalist order #expands (0.75) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 325
• Sinhalese Buddhist nationalist ideology rests on mythic history yet betrays Buddhism’s core values #complicates (0.72) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 294