What does it mean to be Sri Lankan?
70 years after independence, our identity is defined mostly along majoritarian lines, which can be traced back to the divisions created under British rule. These divisions have contributed to violence and war, in the years since 1948.
To this day, there are communities who feel that what is commonly projected and defined as the Sri Lankan identity does not reflect their reality, or themselves.
Looking at this, Groundviews produced a series of videos exploring identity and belonging in a country emerging from war, but not yet out of conflict.
Programme & Advocacy Coordinator for Sri Lanka-Médecins du Monde Sarah Ashaya Soysa talks about the systems that continue to marginalise women in Sri Lanka. She highlights regional disparities in issues faced, including the impact of a patriarchal culture on tackling issues such as gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health rights.
Editor’s Note: To view the next video in the series, click here. Click here for earlier videos. Click here for more content around Sri Lanka’s 70th Independence Day.