The Youth Uprising Movement in Sri Lanka in 2022 and New Trends of Sinhalese Perceptions of Minority Civil and Political Rights and Reconciliation

This study examines new trends in the Sinhala community’s perceptions of minority civil and political rights and reconciliation following the 2022 Youth Uprising in Sri Lanka. The understanding among the Sinhalese people of minority civil and political rights and reconciliation has played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of Sri Lanka and fostering reconciliation or deepening divisions since the colonial era. However, previous research has paid minimal attention to Sinhalese perceptions of minority civil and political rights and reconciliation. Addressing this gap, the primary objective of this study is to examine the nature of Sinhala perceptions of minority civil and political rights and reconciliation. The sub-objectives included identifying attitudes within the Sinhalese community toward minority rights and reconciliation, and identifying the key forces shaping the Sinhala community’s perception of minority civil and political rights and reconciliation. This study adopts a qualitative research methodology, and respondents for the study were selected through purposive sampling. This study selected only 28 respondents because this research primarily relies on secondary data sources, including social media videos, discussions, interviews, and discourses related to the 2022 youth uprising in Sri Lanka. The data collected in the study were analyzed through thematic analysis and conclusions were drawn. The 2022 youth struggle was an immediate response to Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. The 2022 youth struggle has created positive perception within the Sinhala community regarding minority rights, and it has also created the need for reconciliation among all ethnic groups. It cannot be considered a comprehensive reconciliation mechanism because this perception emerged quickly with the youth struggle. However, it is important to create an effective mechanism to promote reconciliation between ethnic groups with these new trends. Therefore, it is important to create effective mechanisms to promote reconciliation among ethnic groups in line with new attitudinal changes.