Why Sri Lanka needs anthropologists more than ever
by Professor M. W. Amarasiri de Silva Sri Lanka is living through one of the most complex periods in its postindependence history. It has endured political upheaval, economic collapse, social fragmentation, environmental stress, and the lingering emotional debris of a three decade civil war. These crises have not occurred in isolation; they overlap, reinforce, and […]
Sri Lanka finds itself in a complex era marked by political turmoil, economic turmoil, social fragmentation, environmental pressure, and the aftereffects of a three-decade civil war. These challenges intertwine and influence each other, but the national discourse continues to be led by economists, technocrats, political strategists, and legal professionals.
While their expertise is valuable, it is not enough to address the country's deepest issues. These challenges transcend mere technicalities; they encompass identity, memory, belief systems, rituals, family ties, emotions, aspirations, and the intricate ways people perceive their surroundings. To grasp these dynamics, Sri Lanka requires a discipline that listens before it advises, observes before it acts, and interprets before it judges – anthropology.
To bolster research capabilities in the country, a focused doctoral scholarship program was launched for faculty members at the Department of Sociology of the University of Peradeniya and the University of Jaffna. The objective was to equip chosen scholars with advanced methodologies and theories. These scholars completed their PhDs under the guidance of conflict and development experts at the School of Global Studies in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Apart from this, the author is unaware of any other scholarship programs in Sri Lankan universities dedicated to research on specific social issues. International collaboration The collaborative relationship between these Sri Lankan and Swedish institutions has produced substantial academic outputs. The participating scholars have completed dissertations on diverse themes such as rural development through social capital in war-torn villages, peace education, post-conflict social reconciliation, community structures, displacement and resettlement processes, psycho-social rehabilitation of war-affected children, conflict studies, gender, peace and social transformation in Northern Sri Lanka, and the roles of women during armed conflict.
Their theses have been published in book form and have resulted in numerous journal articles based on their fieldwork. The research undertaken by these scholars has explored crucial, specialized themes related to post-conflict dynamics and structural development, significantly enhancing regional sociological knowledge. Anthropology has seen a gradual but noticeable shift in recent times.
It is no longer confined to academic departments or ethnographic monographs. The discipline has firmly entered public life. Today, anthropologists contribute to public health, environmental management, humanitarian aid, conflict resolution, corporate strategy, and digital design. They possess the skills to navigate complexity, ambiguity, and contradiction – attributes essential in today's world.
The authors posit that anthropology should be at the forefront of problem-solving, a viewpoint that holds great significance for Sri Lanka. The country's social landscape is experiencing rapid changes that often outpace the capacity of institutions to respond. Urbanization is accelerating, with rural youth migrating to cities for uncertain jobs or to emigrate abroad.
Digital technologies like smartphones and artificial intelligence are reshaping communication, political engagement, and interpersonal relationships. Religious revivalism is on the rise, sometimes intensifying faith, sometimes fueling division. Gender norms are evolving, with women entering new professions and challenging traditional expectations.
Family structures are also changing, with new patterns of marriage, migration, and household composition. These transformations are not consistent; they vary based on region, ethnicity, class, and generation. Recognizing these shifts necessitates more than statistics or surveys; it demands ethnography, long-term involvement, and the ability to interpret meaning within a particular context.
Anthropology is essential here. One of the most pressing areas where Sri Lanka needs anthropologists is reconciliation. Over a decade since the civil war's end, the nation grapples with unresolved grievances, differing interpretations of history, and fragile interethnic trust. Reconciliation is not just about drafting reports or passing resolutions; it is a cultural process grounded in how communities remember violence, share their suffering, mourn their deceased, and envision coexistence.
Anthropologists have long examined memory, trauma, ritual, and identity. They comprehend that healing cannot be imposed from above; it must originate from within communities through practices that align with local customs and emotional landscapes. In Sri Lanka, reconciliation efforts have frequently been top-down, bureaucratic, and disconnected from everyday realities.
Anthropologists can assist in bridging this divide by documenting community narratives, facilitating dialogue, and devising culturally sensitive programs that respect the local traditions and emotions.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.