Sacred commerce in Sri Lanka's ritual economy is quiet engine of growth in changing world

RITUAL economy is the way economic activities, such as production, distribution, and consumption are deeply embedded in and shaped by religious or ceremonial practices.

- By Harsha Udayakantha Peiris

Rather than being driven purely by profit or utility, transactions in a ritual economy serve to reinforce social relationships, cultural values, and spiritual beliefs. Goods and services may be exchanged not just for material benefit but also to fulfil sacred obligations, gain spiritual merit, or maintain cosmic balance. This system often involves offerings, sacrifices, or feasting, where economic resources are used to express devotion, status, or communal solidarity, highlighting the inseparable link between the sacred and the material in many societies.

The Sri Lankan context

In the Sri Lankan context, ritual economy plays a vital role in sustaining cultural traditions, religious institutions, and social cohesion across communities. Deeply rooted in Buddhist, Hindu, and indigenous beliefs, economic activities surrounding rituals, such as temple offerings, almsgiving (d na), annual cultural and festive processions (peraheras), and ancestral worship mobilise resources not merely for religious merit but also to affirm community identity and hierarchy. Donations to temples, sponsorship of rituals, and the exchange of goods during festival periods foster reciprocal relationships between laypeople, clergy, and local artisans. This blending of spiritual and economic practices supports a cycle where faith reinforces economic flows, and economic contributions, in turn, reinforce spiritual and social obligations. Ritual economy in Sri Lanka strengthens the interplay between religion, economy, and society.