‘Reconciliation’ Problems in Post-War Sri Lanka: The Anti-Muslim Movement and Ulema Council Responses

Abstract

: This chapter deals with Sri Lanka’s Muslim council of theologians – the All Ceylon Jamiathul Ulema (ACJU) – and their response to Sri Lanka’s anti-Muslim movement. The anti-Muslim movement emerged after the end of Sri Lanka’s ethnic war and flourished when Sri Lanka was exploring post-war reconciliation measures. The ACJU responded to the anti-Muslim movement using the language of the reconciliation process. Analysing the manner in which the ACJU responded to challenges faced by the Muslim community in Sri Lanka during the past decade, this chapter will argue that given the attacks that the anti-Muslim movement is mounting on Muslims’ religious and cultural life, Sri Lankan Muslims require a less vulnerable institution to provide leadership when engaging with religious others. The anti-Muslim movement’s undermin-ing of ACJU’s authority limits their ability to intervene. This moment also expos-es weaknesses of the ACJU approach to reconciliation and offers an opportunity for the emergence of an alternative leadership.