NJ Psychologist
Diversity Matters The Unspoken Truth: Working with Survivors of the Sri Lankan Civil War By, A. Keshani Perera & Aileen Torres, PhD Introduction
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eautiful sandy beaches, breathtaking views from the mountains, friendly smiles, and great hospitality are some of the million things that make Sri Lanka the “pearl of the Indian ocean.” Located southwest of the Bay of Bengal and separated from the Indian peninsular by the Gulf of Manner and the Palk Strait, this beautiful island has been identified to be one of the friendliest countries in the world. Known by other names previously, such as Ceylon, Thambapanni, Taprobane, and Serendib, the country currently known as the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and is home to a multiethnic population of 21 million individuals. The country is very diverse, with the Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamil, Indian Tamil, and Sri Lankan Moors comprising the largest specific cultural and ethnic groups. The Sinhalese comprise the majority population and largely speak in Sinhala, which is the native tongue. Sinhala and Tamil languages are recognized as national languages and English is identified as a second language.
Lankan, Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi immigrants as the largest growing population (57.2%) in the state of New Jersey between 2000-2010. The US Census (2017) indicates that there are approximately 49,116 Sri Lankans in the US. This paper will explore the cultural beliefs and values, personal experiences, pre-, during, and post-war attitudes, and the struggles of the Sri Lankan diaspora in the United States. The Sri Lankan Culture, Beliefs, and Values The documented history of Sri Lanka dates over 3000 years. With a rich history and cultural heritage, the island nation is known to be dominantly a Theravada Buddhist country. The Sri Lankan community was once highly based on a caste system, some of which still exist to date among the majority and minority communities. Following colonization by the Portuguese, Dutch, and the British, the class and caste systems changed and shifted to its current representation of lower to the upper class. The collectivistic value systems of the country emphasize family relationships, familial responsibility, the importance of the collective, resiliency, and growth through adversity, the importance of culture and history, as well as self-control, including the suppression of affect and maintaining a strong and stable stance. It is important to explore how some of their values, cultural aspects, and beliefs may have contributed to the resilience of the Sri Lankan community across multiple traumatic events. While some literature is present on this topic, most literature explores one side of the story.
A civil war erupted in 1983, lasting for approximately 25 years (1983-2009) and resulting in refugees spread out all over the world and the loss of over 100,000 lives. Many Sri Lankans sought refuge in other countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and India, while many others survived in refugee camps in Tamil borderlands of India. New York City, Long Island, Staten Island, and Central New Jersey are home to the largest Sri Lankan communities in the United States. The New York City Metropolitan Area contains the largest Sri Lankan community in the United States, primarily in the Tompkinsville neighborhood of Staten Island. New Jersey identifies South Asians, including Sri
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