The Drivers of Islamist Extremism in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The vicious cycle of violent extremism based on religious and ethnic lines which continuous to plague the world as one of the greatest threats to global security has gained renewed momentum in recent times. The current trend of Islamist extremism rooted on Wahhabi or Salafi ideology has gradually spread its tentacles across the globe, creating a new breed of radical combatants that are significantly redefining the international security landscape. The 4/21 multiple suicide bombings perpetrated by ‘National Thowheeth Jamaath’ (NTJ) on Easter Sunday, 2019 was the first major terrorist attack conducted in Sri Lanka by a Jihadist group that was inspired by the global Salafi Jihadist ideology advocated by ISIS. The Easter Sunday attacks entail multiple national security implications including the fact that such an attack has the potential to inspire others to conduct similar acts of terror and increase support for the Jihadist cause. Salafi Jihadist groups have maintained resilience and has grown in large numbers despite global counterterrorism efforts. This is primarily due to the fact that security strategists and policy makers have failed to address the drivers of Islamist extremism, misunderstood the enemy and misinterpreted their understanding of the global Jihadist ideology. Therefore, in order to effectively prevent and counter Islamist Extremism, it is imperative to identify and understand the drivers of Salafi Jihadist groups which vary across cultures and regions. Even though there are many forms of extremism which is prevalent in the local context, this paper will provide an in-depth analysis on the murky world of Islamist extremism and its evolution in Sri Lanka. This paper which focuses on identifying the drivers of Islamist Extremism in Sri Lanka includes both academic and policy implications.