A recent increase in the number of Sinhala "patriotic organizations" is directly related to communal tensions in Sri Lanka. Many of these invoke Buddhism in one way or another to define their purpose, reflecting the religio-cultural dimension of the current conflict. This paper examines this phenomenon from two perspectives. First it investigates the origins of these organizations, and traces out their ideologies. The question of their leadership is also raised. By way of example, two prominent leaders (one a monk, one a lay person) are isolated for review. A second issue addressed is the importance of these organizations in the politics of Sri Lanka today. It is argued that the thirty-odd relatively significant Sinhala groups have no centralized leadership, are ideologically fickle, and so far have insufficient roost at the village level. Nonetheless, participation in them (or empathy for their aims) reflects a wide range of classes and castes. The organizations are visible reminders of the distress and strain the Sinhalese community endures. As such, they are the merest manifestation of a profound depth of anxiety, discontent and uncertainty.
