Page 95 - journal_2020_july_uploaded_2022_mar_16

Sri Lanka Navy Journal 82

OUTBREAK OF RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM IN SRI LANKA AND
SUGGESTIONS FOR LONG LASTING SOLUTIONS

Lieutenant Commander Rohan Senarathne, MCPS, MSc (DS)

Signal Communication Officer - SLNS Gajabahu

Religious extremism is defined as any terrorist act or campaign which is
committed by individuals or any terrorist organization. The terrorism in Sri
Lanka had always been highly destructive during the periods of Sri Lankan
Civil war and the first and second JVP insurrections. Mainly, the LTTE and
JVP caused a great deal of destruction to the country. However, a major
terrorist attack was reported during the Easter Sunday Mass on 21 April
st
2019, carried out by a local Islamic extremist group named National
Thowheed Jamaath claimed the responsibility for the attack.

Introduction

“Islamist radicalization is a threat to our society, and not just when it leads
to violence. It’s a challenge every time the law of the state is respected only if
compatible with religious tenets” (Philippe, 2018). Religious extremism is
defined as any terrorist act or campaign which is committed by individuals or
terrorist organization who openly states that religious motivation behind their
acts. It has been identified that although the highest number of incidents and
fatalities occur in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Nigeria, the religious extremism
has been spread all over the world. According to the Global Terrorism Index
2106, four Islamic extremist groups (ISIS, Boko Haram, Taliban and Al-Qaeda)
were responsible for 74% of all deaths from terrorism (BEN-NUN, 2019).
The terrorism in Sri Lanka had always been highly destructive during the
periods of Sri Lankan Civil war and the first and second JVP insurrections.
Mainly the LTTE and JVP caused a great deal of destruction in the country. The
government security forces had an armed conflict with the LTTE which ran
nearly three decades, beginning from 1983 and ending up in May 2009, after
completely defeating the Tamil Tigers militarily. The JVP was involved in two
major uprisings against the ruling government at that time in 1971 and from
1987 to 1989 respectively (‘Democracy, Economic Growth And Terrorism: The
Sri Lankan Case’, 2011).

However, a major terrorist attack was reported during the Easter Sunday
st
mass on 21 April 2019, carried out by a group of suicide bombers on three
catholic churches in Colombo, Negombo and Batticoloa and three luxury hotels
in Colombo. Due to the attack, 259 people lost their lives including 45 foreigners
while over 500 being wounded. A local Islamic extremist group named National
Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) claimed the responsibility for the attack and later on