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deepening societal divisions. Both examples underscore that museums, as custodians

of memory, must move beyond selective remembrance to foster inclusive, critical, and
transformative narratives—narratives essential to building more just, peaceful, and

resilient societies.

6. Conclusion

In post-conflict societies, the ability of museums to present neutral and inclusive
historical narratives is often constrained by prevailing socio-political dynamics.

PVMWM, curated by the Sri Lankan military, exemplifies the challenges of narrating

Sri Lanka’s civil war in a manner that acknowledges multiple truths. While political
realities make absolute neutrality a practical challenge, this study emphasizes the

ethical imperative for museums to move beyond triumphalist or exclusionary

narratives. Instead, museums must strive to foster shared, reconciliatory narratives
that uphold dignity, encourage understanding, and contribute to sustainable peace

among divided communities.

This study demonstrates that museums are not merely passive custodians of the past
but active architects of collective memory, collective imagination, and transitional

justice. Through the lens of Collective Memory Theory, museum narratives are shown
to socially construct the meaning of past atrocities, either fostering inclusive

remembrance—as seen in the USHMM’s human-centered curation—or reinforcing

exclusionary myths, as illustrated by the PVMWM’s triumphalist framing. The
concept of Collective Imagination further highlights how museums cultivate shared

visions of identity, responsibility, and coexistence: the USHMM promotes a vigilant,

rights-based civic ethos, whereas the PVMWM consolidates narratives of military
valor and singular national pride. Within the framework of Transitional Justice,

findings reveal that museums either advance or hinder key pillars, with the USHMM
supporting truth-telling and acknowledgment, and the PVMWM limiting

reconciliation by sidelining plural victimhood. When considered against the goals of
Sustainable Development Goal 16, this study affirms that museums play a profound

role in strengthening peaceful, inclusive societies by fostering memory practices that

promote justice, accountability, and social healing. Addressing the research question
and objectives, it is evident that museum narrative strategies are not neutral; they are

decisive interventions that can either pave transformative pathways toward

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