Paper short abstract:

This paper argues that SLMC creates a ‘dual nationalism’ in its policymaking when it navigates to be loyal both to the nation (Sri Lankans) and the ethnicity (Muslims) and it uses Islamic concepts to do so creating Muslim Politics.

Paper long abstract:

The Muslims in Sri Lanka are a minority in regards to both the Sinhala and the Tamil community in the country. As the war between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil rebels started to accelerate in the early 1980s the Muslim community were caught in the crossfire. A new Muslim political organization started to arise in Sri Lanka; it was the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). Its main goal was to secure a Muslim identity and as they shared language with the Tamil (and Sinhala) community the ethnic marker was religion. This paper analyzes the use of religion in the politics behind this 'ethnic marker.' The empirical data consists of over 30 interviews with members of the political elite of the party as well as official documents.

As research about SLMC tends to miss out what is behind the ethnic marker, this paper will argue that SLMC's is creating 'Muslim Politics' and it uses Islamic concepts not only to sustain its ethnicity but also it is used to argue that Sri Lanka should continue to be a pluralistic country. SLMC creates a 'dual nationalism' in its policymaking when it navigates to be loyal both to the nation (Sri Lankans) and the ethnicity (Muslims).