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Photos: Buddhist nationalists claim victory after Sri Lanka election results

About 70% of the 22 million people in Sri Lanka are Buddhists, mainly ethnic Sinhalese. Hindus, mainly ethnic Tamils, make up 12.6% of the population, while another 9.7% are Muslim and 7.6% are Christian. The days of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist kings and their monk advisers ended in the early 1800s with their defeat by the British, who ruled until independence in 1948. And though Buddhism was given predominance in Sri Lanka’s post-independence constitution, freedom to practice other religions was also enshrined. Nevertheless, Buddhist nationalism has been on the rise, and it was thrust to the forefront of Sri Lankan politics after Islamic State-inspired suicide attacks by local militants killed 269 people at churches and hotels on Easter Sunday.

Updated on: Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM IST

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An aerial view of Kandy town Sri Lanka. In this mountain city that was for centuries home to Sri Lanka’s kings and in recent years has been riven by religious violence, Buddhist nationalists are rejoicing the election of the country’s newest leader. They hope he ushers in another golden era for the nation’s ethnic majority. (Dar Yasin / AP)

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM

An aerial view of Kandy town Sri Lanka. In this mountain city that was for centuries home to Sri Lanka’s kings and in recent years has been riven by religious violence, Buddhist nationalists are rejoicing the election of the country’s newest leader. They hope he ushers in another golden era for the nation’s ethnic majority. (Dar Yasin / AP)

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“We built an ideology that the country needs a Sinhala leader who does not bend down in front of minorities,” said Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, a nationalist leader and monk, referring to the Sinhalese ethnic group. “Now that ideology has won.” Gnanasara and other members of his Bodu Bala Sena, or Army of Buddhist Power, campaigned hard for new President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. (Dar Yasin / AP)

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM

“We built an ideology that the country needs a Sinhala leader who does not bend down in front of minorities,” said Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, a nationalist leader and monk, referring to the Sinhalese ethnic group. “Now that ideology has won.” Gnanasara and other members of his Bodu Bala Sena, or Army of Buddhist Power, campaigned hard for new President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. (Dar Yasin / AP)

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A Buddhist monk walk inside a temple in the early morning on the outskirts of Kandy. Rajapaksa is a former defence official who is regarded by fellow Sinhalese Buddhists as a hero for his role in ending Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war with ethnic Tamil rebels. But minorities fear him because of allegations he took part in war atrocities and ordered state-sponsored disappearances. (Dar Yasin / AP)

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM

A Buddhist monk walk inside a temple in the early morning on the outskirts of Kandy. Rajapaksa is a former defence official who is regarded by fellow Sinhalese Buddhists as a hero for his role in ending Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil war with ethnic Tamil rebels. But minorities fear him because of allegations he took part in war atrocities and ordered state-sponsored disappearances. (Dar Yasin / AP)

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A woman prays at the St. Anthony’s Shrine, which was attacked on Easter Sunday by a suicide bomber, in Colombo. With the day-to-day violence of the civil war in the past, Buddhist nationalists in recent years have accused the government of paying too much heed to minorities, pointing in part to the previous government, which though led by Sinhalese Buddhists, also included ministers who were Hindu and Muslim. (Dar Yasin / AP)

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM

A woman prays at the St. Anthony’s Shrine, which was attacked on Easter Sunday by a suicide bomber, in Colombo. With the day-to-day violence of the civil war in the past, Buddhist nationalists in recent years have accused the government of paying too much heed to minorities, pointing in part to the previous government, which though led by Sinhalese Buddhists, also included ministers who were Hindu and Muslim. (Dar Yasin / AP)

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Children read from the Quran at a temporary mosque next to one damaged during riots last year on the outskirts of Kandy. Rajapaksa, often appearing alongside Buddhist monks, referred to the attacks while campaigning and cast himself as the only person able to restore security. And now nationalists like Gnanasara want him to promote Sinhalese culture at the expense of Muslims, such as getting rid of Islamic religious schools. (Dar Yasin / AP)

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM

Children read from the Quran at a temporary mosque next to one damaged during riots last year on the outskirts of Kandy. Rajapaksa, often appearing alongside Buddhist monks, referred to the attacks while campaigning and cast himself as the only person able to restore security. And now nationalists like Gnanasara want him to promote Sinhalese culture at the expense of Muslims, such as getting rid of Islamic religious schools. (Dar Yasin / AP)

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A young Muslim girl stands at the entrance of a temporary mosque. “Halal, burqa, Islamic banks, Kathi courts, Shariah universities, those all destroyed social integrity that we do have,” Gnanasara said in an interview. “Gotabaya can establish one rule, one nation, one country.” At his swearing-in earlier this month, Rajapaksa said he would be president for all Sri Lankans. (Dar Yasin / AP)

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM

A young Muslim girl stands at the entrance of a temporary mosque. “Halal, burqa, Islamic banks, Kathi courts, Shariah universities, those all destroyed social integrity that we do have,” Gnanasara said in an interview. “Gotabaya can establish one rule, one nation, one country.” At his swearing-in earlier this month, Rajapaksa said he would be president for all Sri Lankans. (Dar Yasin / AP)

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A man walks past the Meera Maccam Jummah Masjid standing beside a Buddhist arch in Kandy. There is doubt about Rajapaksa’s promise among the Muslims of Kandy, a city home to Buddhism’s venerated Temple of the Sacred Tooth. Muslims here speak in hushed tones about what Rajapaksa’s rise to power could mean in a place that even before the Easter attacks saw deadly mob violence aimed at them. (Dar Yasin / AP)

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM

A man walks past the Meera Maccam Jummah Masjid standing beside a Buddhist arch in Kandy. There is doubt about Rajapaksa’s promise among the Muslims of Kandy, a city home to Buddhism’s venerated Temple of the Sacred Tooth. Muslims here speak in hushed tones about what Rajapaksa’s rise to power could mean in a place that even before the Easter attacks saw deadly mob violence aimed at them. (Dar Yasin / AP)

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Fazal Samsuddeen stands inside the compound of a mosque damaged by an angry Buddhist mob in Kandy. “We have a fear that Muslims can be attacked again,” said Samsuddeen, an Islamic preacher. His brother, 23-year-old student Abdul Bazith, was one of two people killed in March 2018 violence in Kandy that was retaliation for the death of a Buddhist truck driver beaten up by four young Muslim men. (Dar Yasin / AP)

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM

Fazal Samsuddeen stands inside the compound of a mosque damaged by an angry Buddhist mob in Kandy. “We have a fear that Muslims can be attacked again,” said Samsuddeen, an Islamic preacher. His brother, 23-year-old student Abdul Bazith, was one of two people killed in March 2018 violence in Kandy that was retaliation for the death of a Buddhist truck driver beaten up by four young Muslim men. (Dar Yasin / AP)

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Fathima shows a photograph of her son, journalism student Abdul Bazith with a Buddhist friend, at her home on the outskirts of Kandy. Bazith died of smoke inhalation after a Buddhist monk-led mob tossed a gasoline bomb into his family home, sending it up in flames. “Sections of the Sinhala people have understood us wrongly and think that Muslims are cruel and must be eliminated,” Fazal Samsuddeen said. (Dar Yasin / AP)

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM

Fathima shows a photograph of her son, journalism student Abdul Bazith with a Buddhist friend, at her home on the outskirts of Kandy. Bazith died of smoke inhalation after a Buddhist monk-led mob tossed a gasoline bomb into his family home, sending it up in flames. “Sections of the Sinhala people have understood us wrongly and think that Muslims are cruel and must be eliminated,” Fazal Samsuddeen said. (Dar Yasin / AP)

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Yatawatte Dhammananda, a monk and Bodu Bala Sena organizer, outside a Buddhist temple in Kandy. “They have the intention of making this a Muslim country. They are working toward that, but we can’t let that happen,” said Dhammananda. “This is a fast-vanishing race in the world,” he said of Sinhalese Buddhists. “It is our duty to protect it.” (Dar Yasin / AP)

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM

Yatawatte Dhammananda, a monk and Bodu Bala Sena organizer, outside a Buddhist temple in Kandy. “They have the intention of making this a Muslim country. They are working toward that, but we can’t let that happen,” said Dhammananda. “This is a fast-vanishing race in the world,” he said of Sinhalese Buddhists. “It is our duty to protect it.” (Dar Yasin / AP)

11/15

A man pushes a handcart past the Red Mosque in Colombo. Several moderate Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka have spoken out against extremist voices within their ranks, and Gnanasara and other nationalists have tried to distance themselves from the violence. Nevertheless, their influence is clear. (Dar Yasin / AP)

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM

A man pushes a handcart past the Red Mosque in Colombo. Several moderate Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka have spoken out against extremist voices within their ranks, and Gnanasara and other nationalists have tried to distance themselves from the violence. Nevertheless, their influence is clear. (Dar Yasin / AP)

12/15

After the Easter bombings, Buddhist monk and MP, Athuraliye Rathana, began a fast in front of the Sacred Tooth temple demanding the resignation of a Muslim Cabinet minister in Sirisena’s government and two Muslim governors he accused of links to the attacks. Gnanasara himself went to join Rathana, whose fast ended on its fourth day with the resignation of all nine Muslim Cabinet ministers and the two governors. (Dar Yasin / AP)

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM

After the Easter bombings, Buddhist monk and MP, Athuraliye Rathana, began a fast in front of the Sacred Tooth temple demanding the resignation of a Muslim Cabinet minister in Sirisena’s government and two Muslim governors he accused of links to the attacks. Gnanasara himself went to join Rathana, whose fast ended on its fourth day with the resignation of all nine Muslim Cabinet ministers and the two governors. (Dar Yasin / AP)

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A Buddhist family offers prayers at a temple courtyard in Kandy. All 11 were eventually cleared of any links to the attacks and returned to their posts. Sirisena chose not to run for re-election. Muslims largely perceived that security forces directed by Sirisena were ignoring or even taking part in violence after the Easter attacks. But at the polls they still voted overwhelmingly for the governing party candidate over Rajapaksa. (Dar Yasin / AP)

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM

A Buddhist family offers prayers at a temple courtyard in Kandy. All 11 were eventually cleared of any links to the attacks and returned to their posts. Sirisena chose not to run for re-election. Muslims largely perceived that security forces directed by Sirisena were ignoring or even taking part in violence after the Easter attacks. But at the polls they still voted overwhelmingly for the governing party candidate over Rajapaksa. (Dar Yasin / AP)

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Buddhist monks prays at a housing complex near an upcoming temple in Colombo. “Muslims feel very insecure, they feel a sense of (being) under threat and worst of all, a lack of confidence in the state’s ability to protect them,” said Farah Mihlar, a Sri Lankan Muslim who lectures about justice and religion at the University of Exeter. She said there is now a dilemma for Muslim boys. (Dar Yasin / AP)

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM

Buddhist monks prays at a housing complex near an upcoming temple in Colombo. “Muslims feel very insecure, they feel a sense of (being) under threat and worst of all, a lack of confidence in the state’s ability to protect them,” said Farah Mihlar, a Sri Lankan Muslim who lectures about justice and religion at the University of Exeter. She said there is now a dilemma for Muslim boys. (Dar Yasin / AP)

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Muslims offer prayers inside a temporary mosque in the outskirts of Kandy. Outside recent Friday prayers at the 500-year-old Grand Mosque of Colombo, businessman M.S.M. Zaneer said antagonism against the country’s Muslims wasn’t new, but it had grown more virulent. He said worshippers lived in fear of a repeat of violence in which Buddhists have looted and set fire to mosques. “I can say they are terrorists as well,” he said. (Dar Yasin / AP)

Updated on Nov 28, 2019 4:00 PM

Muslims offer prayers inside a temporary mosque in the outskirts of Kandy. Outside recent Friday prayers at the 500-year-old Grand Mosque of Colombo, businessman M.S.M. Zaneer said antagonism against the country’s Muslims wasn’t new, but it had grown more virulent. He said worshippers lived in fear of a repeat of violence in which Buddhists have looted and set fire to mosques. “I can say they are terrorists as well,” he said. (Dar Yasin / AP)

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