Mitigating ISIS Radicalization in Sri Lanka: Strategies and Challenges

Abstract

Sri Lanka experienced a period of relative peace and harmony after a 30-year protracted civil war. However, a new threat emerged with the radicalization ideas of ISIS, creating an unseen enemy. The devastating Easter Sunday bombing attack on 19 April 2019, marked a significant moment in Sri Lankan history because of radicalization, causing the deaths of 269 innocent people and injuring over 500. These attacks serve as a lesson to our society about the impotence of merely mitigating radicalization without addressing its root causes, rather than producing temporary solutions. Radicalization is one of the main issues in the modern scenario. Controlling factors in radicalization, such as online radicalization, political and social grievances, local extremist networks, etc., may minimize the overall threat. With the emergence of AI, the threat can be elevated or countered, if necessary, procedures are taken. This paper explores the origins of ISIS radicalization in Sri Lanka, the socio-political context that fosters such extremism, and outlines a comprehensive mitigation plan to prevent future radicalization. The findings will impact civil authorities' ability to handle such conflict situations before they escalate. The paper discusses qualitative recommendations to control and eliminate existing threats. This research takes the form of a qualitative study, utilizing both primary sources, such as statements, and secondary sources, including websites, books, government records, journals, and articles.