The Rohingya crisis and implications for Sri Lanka

The deteriorating situation in Myanmar serves as an implicit warning for Buddhist-Muslim relations in Sri Lanka. In this Reuters file photo, Rohingya refugees cross the Naf River with an improvised raft to reach to Bangladesh at Sabrang near Teknaf, Bangladesh 10 November 2017

Rohingya refugees Mohamed Heron, 6, and his brother Mohamed Akter, 4, pose for a portrait to show burns on their bodies at Kutupalong refugee camp, near Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, 14 October 2017 – Reuters

Thursday, 3 May 2018

This commentary looks at the recent humanitarian crisis involving Myanmar’s Rohingya community from a Sri Lankan perspective. In particular, it considers implications of the crisis for Sri Lanka. We suggest that the crisis requires Sri Lanka to formulate a national policy on refugees, in its drive to become a better ‘regional citizen.’ In addition, we argue that the deteriorating situation in Myanmar serves as an implicit warning for Buddhist-Muslim relations in Sri Lanka.

The Rohingya crisis and implications for Sri Lanka.docx by Thavam on Scribd