Protests and Counter Protests

The value of civil society lies in that it provides a space for alternative views, debate, and dissent. Yet, this paper points out, civil society in post-war Sri Lanka is captive to the forces of local and global politics. While this has resulted in the emergence of new forms of resistance and dissent, it has also given rise to less palatable, illiberal, and dangerous movements such as the resurgence of radical Sinhala Buddhist activism. The tacit state approval granted to these movements has meant that state response to different civil society groups has been markedly lopsided. Thus, post-war Sri Lankan society has been subject to greater state control and an extreme polarisation of values and ideas.