Abstract:
This research is about the requirement of an attitude change for coexistence between
Sinhala and Tamil ethnic groups in post-war Sri Lanka. This study was carried out in
order to identify how attitudes are constructed in a person's mind, how those attitudes
influence behavior and what mechanism can be used to change attitudes. According to
these factors, the study is in progress to analyze the nature of attitudes between Sinhala
and Tamil ethnic groups. In addition, the threat of negative attitudes will be analyzed.
The hypothesis of the research is that the nature of attitudes among Sinhala and Tamil
ethnic groups in the post-war context in Sri Lanka has taken a negative trend.
Questionnaires are used as the main research tool; interviews and participatory
observation methods are also used. The sample population of the survey consisted of
students from the University of Colombo, University of Kelaniya, University of Jaffna
and the Eastern University. Fifty students participated from each university, making the
total group two hundred. The main conclusion of this study is that changing attitudes
towards coexistence is a vital requirement in the post-war context in Sri Lanka.
Moreover, most Tamil people's attitude could be identified as negative towards the
Sinhala people. But Sinhala people's attitudes are neither positive nor negative which
is not harmful. The most significant finding was that there is a trend for both ethnic
groups to have positive expectations for a strong friendship.
