Ethno-nationalism to raise its ugly head again?

Sri Lanka doesn't seem to have taken certain lessons from the past.

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There was an ugly era that allowed ethno-nationalism to thrive, causing communal tensions and divisions in various parts of the country. There were Buddhist monks who threatened minority communities and politicians who convinced these communities to vote for Sinhala-Buddhist leaders by instilling a fear psychosis. In the North of the country, ethno-nationalism is an issue that people encounter on a daily basis, making them vulnerable to land conflicts and various other threats.

The recent incident in Trincomalee speaks volumes about how a nation could be triggered and divided in a matter of seconds. On November 16, the Coast Conservation Department had been planning to take action against an unauthorised building near the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Viharaya in Trincomalee. Subsequently, the Police had stepped in to remove the Buddha statue placed on the disputed site. Thereafter the monks and people have protested against it, claiming that they were restoring a building for the Dhamma school.