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In this paper, I discuss the evolution of Buddhist civilisational populism in modern Sri Lankan politics and civil society. I do this by historicising early forms of Buddhist civilisational populism in the country, during its occupation by the British Empire (1815–1945). As I discuss in this paper, some of the key concepts of “civilisationism” central to leading social and political movements in British Ceylon were a result of the disruptions caused by centuries of European colonial rule. Consequently, issues of identity and belonging have carried on to the post-independence context. In this paper, I discuss what these dynamics could possibly mean for the future of Sri Lankan politics and society, in the wake of the nation’s debilitating economic crisis last year.

In this paper Gamage argues that the encounter of early Buddhist nationalism in Sri Lanka with colonial rule and capitalist modernity uniquely influenced the emergence of an exclusivist, majoritarian politics against ethnic and religious minorities. In its contemporary expression, the Bodu Bala Sena frames the Muslim \"Other\" as undermining the cultural and economic sovereignty of the \"Sinhala-Buddhist nation.\" This in turn reinforces the majoritarian and modernization imperatives of the modern Nation-State, manifested most recently in the authoritarian populist politics of the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime. This paper starts off with a brief review on Islamophobia, generally and in the context of Asian societies more specifically. This paper borrows from a conceptualization of \"Islamophobia\" that interprets it as more than just individual attitudes or beliefs toward Muslims. Rather it is a process of racial abstraction that misleadingly classifies otherwise diverse groups into a generic Muslim \"race\".

As 2024 unfolded, Sri Lanka stood at a crossroad. While economic stabilization efforts showed some progress with the last months showing deflation for the first time since 1961. The challenges of unemployment, debt restructuring and social impact remained pressing concerns. Politically, Sri Lanka witnessed a historic shift in its leadership reflecting the public desire for change in governance. On the geopolitical front, Sri Lanka’s ability to navigate the complex web of strategic interests balancing global and regional powers was tested.

An assessment of political and security developments in Southeast Asia over the last year will reveal three trends that highlight the continued challenges faced by both individual Southeast Asian states as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). First, ASEAN faced the challenge of re-establishing regional cohesion, a task that had taken on greater import in the wake of debacle of 2012 when the inability of members to arrive at a consensus for a joint communique at the conclusion of its July foreign ministers' meeting cast doubt on the organization's unity. Second, the year also saw a deepening of engagement with major powers. Third, the imperative of domestic stability came to the fore of regional affairs as several Southeast Asian regimes came under pressure for political change both at the ballot box and in the street. Predictably, the preoccupation of several governments on domestic affairs had negating effect on foreign policy and regionalism.