| dc.description.abstract | This study was conducted with the aim of addressing the dearth of comprehensive
research on the internal and external factors driving violent extremism in Muslim enclaves
in majority Sinhala Buddhists regions of the country. The main types of data collected
for the study was qualitative data. Qualitative data from the study was collected from
in-depth interviews with the selected sample. Sample participants selected for the study
consisted of religious and community leaders in Muslim enclaves in Mawanalla, Sample
size was limited to ten religious and community leaders living in Muslim enclaves in
Mawanella. Data collected from the sample participant was analyzed using thematic
analysis. Analysis of participants responses to questions relating to internal factors
driving Muslim enclaves in Buddhist majority areas to violent extremism revealed several
themes. These themes are namely political factors, lack of trust between Sinhala and
Muslim communities, activities of extremist religions groups, religious teaching, culture
and religious di erences, law enforcement, leadership failure, land and other resource
disputes, economic issues, majority/minority concerns, and demographic factors. Based
on the analysis of data from participant responses to questions relating to the external
factors driving Muslim enclaves in Sinhala Buddhist majority areas to violent extremism
several themes were identi ed by the researcher. These themes were international support,
international in uence, and teaching of foreign ideologies. | en_US |
