YOGA AS A TOOL OF PEACE EDUCATION FOR PEACEBUILDING IN SRI LANKA FOR THE CULTURAL AND SOCIAL HARMONY

Abstract

Sri Lanka is a pluralistic community that represents the values of multi-cultural, multi-religious, and multiethnicities. Recognition for the cultural and social multicity in Sri Lankan community is less because Sri Lankan doesn’t have a proper mechanism to address diversity. As a result, the individual and group-wise Sri Lankan community peace-building process is challenging. To transform Sri Lanka into a developed nation, peacebuilding is essential because contemporary world policymakers have recognized peace as a fundamental requirement for national development. Presently Sri Lankan needs to full fill this need ilizing the tool of peace education. That process strengthens the peacebuilding process by developing skills and attitudes for peace and reconciliation. As a result of that, individuals will empower to sustain peace in society. However, presently peace education mechanism has been transformed through various new methodologies. Contemporary yoga has transformed into an effective teaching method in peace education. Today under peace education, yoga practice is utilised to develop inner and outer peace in the individual. Therefore, there is potential to utilise yoga in peace education in Sri Lanka for peacebuilding. When the Sri Lankan peace education process utilizes yoga, we can develop peace and social and cultural harmony. Considering these facts objectives of the study were to identify the cultural and social diversity of Sri Lankan society. To examine the need for peacebuilding in Sri Lankan society, Sri Lanka needs to identify the nature of peace education in Sri Lanka. Finally, this study aims to recognize the potential of yoga for Sri Lankan peace education and its influence on the peacebuilding and promotion of cultural and social harmony in Sri Lankan Society. This study is qualitative and theoretical. Based on the literature related to the study, it is textually analyzed according to the research objectives. The Sri Lankan community has a wider diversity in culture, religion, and ethnicity. The Sri Lankan education system has addressed the peace-building process through the peace-education. However, that mechanism was not up to date with the current peacebuilding tools. Therefore, in the Sri Lankan peace education system, there is potential for utilising yoga as a tool for peace-building. Contemporary yoga as a peace education tool enhances the attitude and skill related to inner and outer peace. Through that individuals can maintain peace in their self and social life. Utilization of this approach in Sri Lankan society will enable both inner and outer peace of individuals and strengthen cultural and social harmony in the society because it enables individuals to make awareness about the culture of Hinduism associated with yoga practice. Therefore, utilizing the yoga practice in the peace education of Sri Lanka enhances cultural awareness, inner and outer peace, and social and cultural harmony in Sri Lanka.