tity Politics and State-Building in Sri Lanka
The
book, Identity Politics and State-Building in Sri Lanka, Understanding
Ethno-nationalist Mobilization in a Postcolonial State in Transiti,
wiill be launched tomorrow at the Peradeniya University from 4.00 p.m.
to 5.30 p.m. at the Faculty Seminar Room.
In 2011 the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) and the Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) of Columbia University initiated a joint project entitled, “Historical Memory as a Tool for Conflict Resolution” with the objective of engaging scholarly and intellectual participation in the country’s post conflict peace building and reconciliation effort.
The specific task identified by the project was to get the scholars and intellectuals with different perspectives to work together in collaborative work to produce, through research, public debate and discussion, shared narratives of the conflict which would provide a strong and dependable basis for mutual understanding between the two main protagonists leading to sustainable peace and reconciliation.
It was decided to conduct a collaborative research project and produce a scholarly volume on the Sri Lanka state as focusing on identities and State-Building with particular attention to the post-colonial state. This collaborative research project resulted in studies independently prepared by the scholars commissioned to do the work. These studies were undertaken by a group of well-known Sri Lankan academics with backgrounds in History, Economics and Sociology most of them currently holding senior academic positions in one of the Sri Lankan Universities. They are Dr. Gamini Keerawella, Dr. Sisira Pinnawala, Dr. P. V. B. Karunatillaka, Dr. Janaki Jayawardena, Dr. O. G. Dayaratna-Banda, Dr. Sathiaseelan and Ms. S. A. C. Feroziya.
The launch will be attended by academic staff as well as students of the University and other civil society stake holders from the suburbs.
In 2011 the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) and the Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) of Columbia University initiated a joint project entitled, “Historical Memory as a Tool for Conflict Resolution” with the objective of engaging scholarly and intellectual participation in the country’s post conflict peace building and reconciliation effort.
The specific task identified by the project was to get the scholars and intellectuals with different perspectives to work together in collaborative work to produce, through research, public debate and discussion, shared narratives of the conflict which would provide a strong and dependable basis for mutual understanding between the two main protagonists leading to sustainable peace and reconciliation.
It was decided to conduct a collaborative research project and produce a scholarly volume on the Sri Lanka state as focusing on identities and State-Building with particular attention to the post-colonial state. This collaborative research project resulted in studies independently prepared by the scholars commissioned to do the work. These studies were undertaken by a group of well-known Sri Lankan academics with backgrounds in History, Economics and Sociology most of them currently holding senior academic positions in one of the Sri Lankan Universities. They are Dr. Gamini Keerawella, Dr. Sisira Pinnawala, Dr. P. V. B. Karunatillaka, Dr. Janaki Jayawardena, Dr. O. G. Dayaratna-Banda, Dr. Sathiaseelan and Ms. S. A. C. Feroziya.
The launch will be attended by academic staff as well as students of the University and other civil society stake holders from the suburbs.
Identity Politics and State-Building in Sri Lanka
The
book, Identity Politics and State-Building in Sri Lanka, Understanding
Ethno-nationalist Mobilization in a Postcolonial State in Transiti,
wiill be launched tomorrow at the Peradeniya University from 4.00 p.m.
to 5.30 p.m. at the Faculty Seminar Room.
In 2011 the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) and the Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) of Columbia University initiated a joint project entitled, “Historical Memory as a Tool for Conflict Resolution” with the objective of engaging scholarly and intellectual participation in the country’s post conflict peace building and reconciliation effort.
The specific task identified by the project was to get the scholars and intellectuals with different perspectives to work together in collaborative work to produce, through research, public debate and discussion, shared narratives of the conflict which would provide a strong and dependable basis for mutual understanding between the two main protagonists leading to sustainable peace and reconciliation.
It was decided to conduct a collaborative research project and produce a scholarly volume on the Sri Lanka state as focusing on identities and State-Building with particular attention to the post-colonial state. This collaborative research project resulted in studies independently prepared by the scholars commissioned to do the work. These studies were undertaken by a group of well-known Sri Lankan academics with backgrounds in History, Economics and Sociology most of them currently holding senior academic positions in one of the Sri Lankan Universities. They are Dr. Gamini Keerawella, Dr. Sisira Pinnawala, Dr. P. V. B. Karunatillaka, Dr. Janaki Jayawardena, Dr. O. G. Dayaratna-Banda, Dr. Sathiaseelan and Ms. S. A. C. Feroziya.
The launch will be attended by academic staff as well as students of the University and other civil society stake holders from the suburbs.
In 2011 the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) and the Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) of Columbia University initiated a joint project entitled, “Historical Memory as a Tool for Conflict Resolution” with the objective of engaging scholarly and intellectual participation in the country’s post conflict peace building and reconciliation effort.
The specific task identified by the project was to get the scholars and intellectuals with different perspectives to work together in collaborative work to produce, through research, public debate and discussion, shared narratives of the conflict which would provide a strong and dependable basis for mutual understanding between the two main protagonists leading to sustainable peace and reconciliation.
It was decided to conduct a collaborative research project and produce a scholarly volume on the Sri Lanka state as focusing on identities and State-Building with particular attention to the post-colonial state. This collaborative research project resulted in studies independently prepared by the scholars commissioned to do the work. These studies were undertaken by a group of well-known Sri Lankan academics with backgrounds in History, Economics and Sociology most of them currently holding senior academic positions in one of the Sri Lankan Universities. They are Dr. Gamini Keerawella, Dr. Sisira Pinnawala, Dr. P. V. B. Karunatillaka, Dr. Janaki Jayawardena, Dr. O. G. Dayaratna-Banda, Dr. Sathiaseelan and Ms. S. A. C. Feroziya.
The launch will be attended by academic staff as well as students of the University and other civil society stake holders from the suburbs.
In 2011 the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) and the Institute for
the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) of Columbia University initiated a joint
Project entitled “Historical Memory as a Tool for Conflict Resolution” with the
objective of engaging scholarly and intellectual participation in the country’s
post conflict peace building and reconciliation effort. The specific task
identified by the Project was to get the scholars and intellectuals with
different perspectives to work together in collaborative work to produce,
through research, public debate and discussion, shared narratives of the
conflict which would provide a strong and dependable basis for mutual
understanding between the two main protagonists leading to sustainable peace
and reconciliation. The formal work of the Project commenced with a workshop
jointly organized by the PF and ISHR in Colombo in July 2011, facilitated by
Dr. Elazar Barkan, Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia
University and Director of Columbia’s ISHR. The participants of the civil
society representing academics and researchers from the Universities and other
stakeholder groups, were invited to this workshop. A consensus that emerged
from the workshop was that the lack of agreement on the nature of the
postcolonial Sri Lanka state was one of the root causes of the conflict. Therefore
it was decided to conduct a collaborative research project and produce a
scholarly volume on the Sri Lanka state as focusing on Identities and
State-Building with particular attention to the postcolonial state. A Working Group (WG) consisting of university
academics/ researchers and civil society intellectuals was formed to carry out
the above activity. The Working Group (WG) on State-Building
Identity Politics and State-Building in Sri Lanka
was launched in October 2011 and identified the following
three thematic concentrations for study. 1. The nature of the pre-colonial
state focusing on state and collective identity formation 2. Identity and
Political Mobilization in the Colonial Sri Lanka 3. Postcolonial State and
nation building in Sri Lanka since 1948: Approaches, Attempts and Challenges
Each contributor was asked to develop a research paper that was subjected to
peer review and open and critical stakeholder dialogue. Three stakeholder
dialogues were conducted, two at the University of Colombo and one at the
University of Jaffna. The papers were revised incorporating the comments and
the work was completed in August 2013. This volume presents the outcome of
their intellectual engagement in the form of six scholarly papers. The papers
trace the different stages in state formation in Sri Lanka from the pre-state
chiefdoms and early state formations to its present form, the Postcolonial
state. Particular emphasis of the authors is on understanding different
approaches and attempts towards Postcolonial state-building by various
stakeholders. There is also an examination of the reconstitution of ethnic
identities within Sri Lanka, especially during the British period, and the
consequences of this for state formation in Sri Lanka. Two other areas of focus
are post independence ethnicization of the economic function of the state and
the role of the minorities in a state which is characterized by a citizenry
deeply divided on the basis of a whole range of deep-rooted identities with
differential interests in managing the state. The Muslim factor which
constitutes the third key dimension of the discourse has also been given
attention in this volume with a detailed analysis of the dynamics associated
with the politicization of the Muslim collective identity and its specific
manifestations.
The above studies were independently prepared by the
scholars commissioned to do the work with no influence on their values or
judgments by the Pathfinder Foundation or any other parties associated with this
project. The views expressed in the papers are those of the authors. The
Parthfinder Foundation is grateful to Dr. David Phillips, Director of the
Program on Peace-building and Rights at Columbia University’s Institute for the
Study of Human Rights for his support at various stages of the project cycle.
We would also like to record our gratitude to Danielle Goldberg, Program
Coordinator, Peacebuilding and Rights Program of Columbia University. We are
also thankful to Dr. Gamini Keerawella, Professor in History of the University
of Peradeniya who coordinated this Project component. His contribution in
conceptualizing the research theme on the Postcolonial State and leadership and
input at the workshops and discussions were invaluable to the successful completion
of the work and in bringing out this volume. I wish to take this opportunity to
express our sincere thanks and appreciation to Milinda Moragoda Institute for
People’s Empowerment (MMIPE) for funding and other assistance received from the
inception of the PF that ensures continuation of work of this nature. The
Parthfinder Foundation believes that this volume of well researched papers by
Sri Lanka’s prominent academics and researchers in their respective fields, in
addition to being a useful contribution to post war peace building and
reconciliation effort which is its main objective, will be of value to scholars
and students interested in history, sociology, ethnic studies, political
science and conflict resolution. Luxman Siriwardena Executive Director The
Pathfinder Foundation 01st of September 2014.
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