Why not a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate and report on the damage caused to Buddhism and suppression of the Rights of the Majority Buddhist Sinhalese by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British during the colonial era (1505 – 1948) ?
Posted on July 24th, 2026
Senaka Weeraratna
The establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to investigate colonial-era injustices against Buddhism and the Sinhalese population has been a topic of serious discussion among nationalist groups, legal scholars, and civil society.
Broadening a mandate to cover a 443-year span (1505–1948) introduces immense legal complexities regarding testimonies, individual criminal accountability, and verifiable evidence required by international legal frameworks. [1, 2]
Nevertheless, subsequent post-independence governments chose to address the historical suppression of Buddhism through constitutional state protections rather than investigative tribunals. [1, 2]
- Article 9: The 1972 and 1978 Constitutions of Sri Lanka formally rectified colonial-era marginalization by giving Buddhism the “foremost place” and making it the duty of the state to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Institutional restoration: Over the decades, state mechanisms like the Department of Buddhist Affairs and the Archaeological Department were established to reclaim, restore, and legally protect ancient Buddhist temple lands and heritage sites destroyed or alienated during Western rule. [1]
4. Alternative Frameworks For Colonial Redress
Instead of utilizing a domestic TRC, advocates for colonial accountability generally pursue avenues rooted in repatriation and international lobbying:
| Approach | Mechanism | Objective |
| Bilateral Diplomacy | State-to-state agreements | Recovery of stolen artifacts, palm-leaf manuscripts, and historical regalia from European museums. |
| Religious Engagement | Direct petitions to religious bodies | Demanding formal apologies and property restatements, similar to the Vatican’s recent repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery. |
| Academic Commissions | Independent historical bodies | Archiving documented atrocities, such as the Portuguese destruction of the Kelaniya temple, without mixing it into contemporary political tribunals. |
If you want to look closer at this topic, let me know if you would like to explore:
- The specific economic impacts of British land ordinances on temple administration.
- How other post-colonial countries have sought repatriation of religious artifacts from European nations.
- The legal text of the Kandyan Convention regarding the protection of Buddhism. [1]
- https://share.google/aimode/jskbre0421wiXLYH8
Colonial Wounds: The Untold Atrocities of the British Empire in Sri Lanka
A story of pain, resilience, and survival. For over 150 years, the island of Sri Lanka — once a proud and sovereign land — was held under the shadow of the British Empire. Behind romanticised myths of railways, tea, and civilisation,” lies a darker truth: scorched earth campaigns, mass executions, cultural erasure, and ecological devastation.
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Senaka Weeraratna