Tamil - speaking people are 56% in Colombo but administration is Sinhala alone
by M.I. M. Mohideen
Soon after defeating LTTE terrorism in May 2009, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that there are no minority or majority communities in Sri Lanka today. There are only patriots and traitors, he explained. Muslim Ministers and political leaders supporting his UPFA Government have also said that there is no need for communal political parties and wanted the Muslims to join the National political parties.
Under these circumstances, it has become very pertinent to have a closer look at the plight of the Muslims particularly in Colombo for being patriots and loyal members of the National political parties in Sri Lanka.
We, Muslims are proud of the fact that we are citizens of Sri Lanka, our motherland, where our racial ancestors, the Arabs originated the Sri Lanka Muslim race, more than 2,500 years ago. As people professing the religion of Islam, we have been here for more than 1,430 years.
Muslims have always been loyal to the country and were in the forefront of the struggle - resisting foreign invaders, winning back the lost freedom and consolidating the freedom won. Muslims have fought together with the Sinhalese when the Portuguese invaded Sri Lanka. Every resistant moment of the Sinhalese had Muslims in their ranks.
So much so that we became the target of persecution under the colonial powers. Muslims did not become traitors to receive honours or land. For a period of roughly three centuries, between the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505 and the departure of the Dutch in 1795, the Muslims in the maritime provinces underwent untold hardships at the hands of the invaders for being patriots.
In the last 50 or 60 years, during which Sri Lanka mounted a Constitutional struggle, you will not come across one solitary Muslim voice against the aspirations of the majority Sinhalese people. Muslim representatives did not go before Royal Commissions, nor have they gone before the International Community with accusation and sought to blacken the image of the majority community - the Sinhalese people.
Our Arab ancestors were a peaceful and law abiding people with strong religious conviction. They came to Sri Lanka as traders whose arrival was not accompanied by any military subjugation. Therefore, there was no bitterness or animosity between the natives and the Muslims.
Colombo had a large Muslim Population when the Portuguese landed in 1505. They called the Muslims "Moors", a name derived from the Greek "Mauros" which denoted the Muslim inhabitants of Mauritania in North Africa, who overran Spain and Portugal in the 8th century. Although it was one time customary in Europe to refer to Muslims from - whatever country they came, by this name and in local usage the expression "Ceylon Moors" has since acquired an ethnic connotation.
Colombo population (2001) Sinhalese 270,932 - 42 percent, Tamils 199,429 - 31 percent, Muslims 163,167 - 25 percent and others 13,572 - two percent, Total 647,100 - 100 percent. Tamil-speaking peoples - Tamils and Muslims are 56 percent and over 2/3rd - 67.3 percent of the population of Colombo Divisional Secretariat Division. But the Divisional Secretary and the language of administration have always been Sinhalese. Government Employees in Colombo Municipal Council, Colombo Divisional Secretary’s Division, Police Stations, Hospitals, Maternity Homes and all the Government Departments in Colombo Municipal area are not according to ethnic ratio.
After the independence in 1948, various changes have been effected in the economic structure of the country. State monopolies in the wholesale establishment and retail sales outlets have seriously affected the employment opportunities of Colombo Muslims.
Habitat for Humanity, Sri Lanka - HFHSL, has reported that the Government lacks a national policy and firm commitment to provide adequate housing for the lower income families in Colombo. There are 18,619 Muslim housing units (2007) in Colombo Central, out of which more than 50 percent are old and unauthorized shanties in predominant Muslim areas. 10,000 new housing units costing US$100 million is the immediate need for the solution of housing problems of lower income Muslim families in Colombo.
Most of the Muslim Schools in Colombo started before 1970. Muslim political leaders have considered to improve the existing schools rather than opening new ones. There are 19 Muslim schools in Colombo City with nearly 20,000 students and 730 teachers, another 10,000 Muslim students are studying in non-Muslim schools.
Eighty-five percent of the students in Muslim schools are from the poor families, of this at least 25 percent are below poverty line. Shortage of infrastructure facilities and qualified and trained teachers are the main reasons for the poor examination results. Colombo Muslim schools are put together with government patronized highly developed schools like Ananda, Nalanda, Royal, Visaka and Devi Balika. The cut off marks for the university admission is the same for all the schools in Colombo District. This system has seriously affected the university entrance of Colombo Muslim students.
According to Police Narcotic Bureau, Muslim -youths in Colombo are very active in drug trafficking. Lack of employment opportunities, inadequate housing and shortage of proper educational infrastructure facilities in Muslim schools are the root cause for the Colombo Muslim youths to become drug traffickers and members of underworld terrorist gangs.
Dr. M. C. M. Kaleel and Mr. A. C. S. Hameed were the Chairmen of the UNP and Dr. Badiudin Mahmud, was the founder Secretary of the SLFP. The Muslim regresentatives in the UNP & SLFP were party to the Citizenship Act of 1948, Language Act of 1956, Finance Act of 1963. Also they were party to the removal of Section 29 and the Senate in the Soulbury Constitution and the removal of the Westminister System of Parliament and introducing the Proportional Representation Election System which have made the Muslims of Sri Lanka a community of political and social slaves.
From what had happened to the minorities in Sri Lanka, the Muslims find it difficult to accept the view that the UNP and the SLFP are truly national parties. They are Sinhala parties to look after the interests of the Sinhalese only. When one bears in mind the policies that have been persued by successive Governments, by one or the other of these parties, on citizenship, Language, Education, Employment and Land Alienation, Muslims find it difficult, in fact, impossible to accept their position as National Parties.
Political power by virtue of numbers have always been in the hands of the majority community - Sinhalese. This had led to serious discrimination of the minorities, Tamils and Muslims, by successive governments of the so called National political parties - UNP ‘and SLFP, since independence.
It is the failure of the Sinhalese majority to recognize and respond to the legitimate rights and needs of the minorities that have led to dissatisfaction, terrorism and demand for separation.
A true Muslim cannot be a loyal member of such a political party whose policies run counter to the interests of his community or religion. When something is done to the detriment of Muslim community, Muslim members in national political parties dare not open their mouths in defence of their community in the appropriate forum for fear of losing cast in the party hierarchy.
However, their membership in the party, and their holding office under it, are held out to the Muslim community in Sri Lanka and to the outside world as pointing to the high esteem in which the Muslims are being held in Sri Lanka and the political generosity of the ruling party.
We the "Sri Lankan Muslims" have our own ethnic, religious, cultural and political identity. As people who have been subjected to dual oppressions of majority hegemony and separatist terrorism in the social, economic and political spheres, our intensified political activities through powerful Muslim political organisations have assumed vital importance in the present context. Nowadays, the political tendency is to view matters in the light of Sinhala interests, Tamil interests and Muslim interests.
Under these circumstances, it is the responsibility of the politically conscious members of the Muslim civil society to carry the burden of consolidating the political strength of the Muslims by organizing awareness programmes in predominant Muslim areas.
In the light of lessons learned from the past and with the goal of a dignified and peaceful co-existence on the basis of equality with the other communities, this is the most opportune time for us to raise our voices and wage our struggle to win our legitimate rights. In this regard, it has become an absolute necessity to establish a unified political command and an enlightened leadership with a view to articulate the political future of the Muslims.
15 Comments
How about them going to an area where majority speaks Tamil.. These stupid guys wish tail of the dog shaking dog. But it is other way.. Unfortunately, Sinhala people tolerate people like this..
Although the Muslims are neglected they are well represented in Parliment. It would seem that their leaders have done nothing for the community. As revealed by the writer, the true state of affairs with regard to Muslims in the city of Colombo. The neglect of the Muslim community with regard to education and employment has wreaked unrepairable damage on the community and future generations.
In a city with a 25% population of Muslims, they are not afforded even upto the national average of 8-10% in schooling and employment. Walk into any government department or public quoted company in Colombo and you will not find even 1% muslims employed, there too in a junior or menial position. As a result many Muslims have to be self employed as TriShaw drivers, Hawkers and in Small Businesses. High time our leaders addressed this problem instead of playing Politics for personal gain.
I have to disagree with you on the issue of categorizing the Muslims in Colombo as wholesale Tamil speaking people. In reality the younger generation of Muslim in other than east of the country speak more fluent Sinhalese than Tamil. In fact I know in Southern Sri Lanka some Muslim youth cannot speak Tamil at all. My intention here is not to undermine the use of Tamil but to show the reality that is the vast majority of Muslims of Sri Lanka (other than eastern province) is able to read, write and speak in Sinhalese.
This is a good essay to rejuvenate the muslim youth to achieve their aspirations but it is far from the point of view of a true sri lankan patriot.
For example how many muslim youths had joined the forces in the most needed defence of sri lanka in the recently won battle against terrorism to safeguard the sovereinty, territorial integrity and peace.
You claim so many muslims living in Colombo and how many of them joined the national struggle to save the country. How many joined from other parts of the country and how many in all gave their lives.
The obvious fact is that muslims care more for their business interests and less for national interests.
Furthermore, however much the muslims were harassed,tortured, chased away from the north or slaughtered whilst worshipping in the east by the terrorists, yet the muslim lobby had some sympathetic reservations for the LTTE for reasons unknown. Perhaps one reason being common language and minority sympathy. Second it could be that if the LTTE could gain a separate chunk for themselves, demand for a separate chunk for muslims could follow thereafter. The behaviour of the muslim leaders in politics amply support this stance.
Big Deal Mr..........
Everybody knows Colombo is full of tragics who live, breath and speak english. (Some may try to give Queen of England a lesson or too). You probably are one of them.
You,ve done a good job highliting some figures but the fact that lot of people in administration speak sinhalese shouldn't worry anyone, you can always depend on English.
I am afraid this delicate question is raised somewhat
rashly. This is a question that is best taken up somewhat discreetly. Also, in the writer's haste to claim many "goodies" with the majority over the others, he claims our Muslims are of Arab descent. This is now becoming so boringly routine though totally at variance with hisory. The fact is most of our Muslims in the land are of South Indian orign although a few like Arabi Pasha did come from the now oil-rich countries. But if they want to claim they are of another origin, it is their business history being a different matter. The late Badi-u-Din Mahmud when he went with a delegation of local Muslims to Tamiladu in 1983 turned course and said Lankan Muslims are of Indian origin. He was then advised by
TN leaders to identify themselves, as South Indian Muslims as Tamil Muslims but they prefer to identify themselves by religion rather than race. One remembers prior to WW1 when the Turks were in ascent they zealously identified with the Turks and proudly wore the "Turukki-Thoppi"
ISS
Ethnic cleansing is about assimilating and digesting a people. It is about destroying the identity of a people, as a people. And in the case of Sri Lanka the theoretical frame was articulated with clarity in July 2009 by Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksha
Now, my theory is: there are no minorities in Sri Lanka, there are only those who love the country and those who don’t... For reconciliation to happen, there must be a mix [of ethnicities]. Here the Sinhalese, the Tamils, and Muslims inter-marry. In my own family, there have been mixed marriages: Sinhalese with Tamils, Sinhalese with Muslims. This is Sri Lankan society..." Sri Lanka President Rajapaksa's Theory of Reconciliation: Intermarriage, 7 July 2009
I am afraid this is what is happning in Srilanka wittingly or un wittingly to Tamils, Muslims and other minorities. other minorities has almost completed.Due to some Selfish Tamil and Muslim so called leaders for their own personal gains pawned their people to Sinhala.
The Tamil-speaking Muslims are low caste Hindus who converted to Islam. This was stated by Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan in 1887. The Tamil-speaking Muslims in India identify themselves as Tamilians. Abdul Kalam and AR Rahman are good examples of this fact. Mr MIM Mohideen's claim of Arab ancestry is not corroborated by the Arabs themselves. They treat the Sri Lankan Muslims as lowly converts speaking a strange Dravid tongue.
M.I. M. Mohideen makes some valid points, but what he fails to point out is that in comparision to the Sinhalese and the Tamils, the Muslim community does not value education that much. It is unfortunate, but true. There is a zeal for education amongst the Sinhalese and the Tamils that is lacking in the Muslim community at large. This is not something unique to Sri Lanka; even in neighbouring India, non-Muslims out represent Muslims when it comes to educational achievements. Blaming other communities for the Muslims own lack of initiative is not helpful at all. Colombo Muslims have AMPLE opportunities for education. Lowering cut off marks for the Muslims of Colombo would suggest that Muslim students aren't as smart as their Sinhalese and Tamil peers. This is rubbish of course. What needs to change is the ATTITUDE of the Muslim community towards education. Running a business isn't always the best thing to do in life, neither is spending the whole day reading the Quran and memorising it, but forgetting mathematics, science and English. It is time for the Muslim community to stop blaming others for their ills, pull their socks up and start producing engineers, doctors, lawyers, accountants etc etc. "Don't ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country"
'Srilankan Muslims' are Tamils there is no questian about it , certainly they are not arabs Though the Quoran is written in arabic all muslims are not arab similarly All Christians are not British American or Irish,But Some of the bankrupt and moraly corrupt Sinhala and Muslim politicians have distorted the facts and projected them as Muslim a rather than Tamils this helped the Sinhala's divid and rule policy and Muslim politicians gave the money and power. To the detrimend of The Tamil Muslims and srilankan Tamils as a whole.
Rifat Halim:
I'm glad you take the point. If Lankan Muslims are of Arab stock - as that gullible illiterate Alavi Moulana also sometimes squeals -
Badi-u-din, Mashoor Moulana and company in 1983 would have gone and genuflected before the Wahabi King of Saudi Arabia pleading for safety. Instead of that they went to the DMK leaders of Tamilnadu. Surely, you can't have it both ways. By the way, isn't muscician AR Rahman a Tamil (Brahmin?) convert - for some personal reasons? Let me add during the 1940/50s our Muslim neighbours were absolutely pious religiously and won the admiration of all. This new Islamic Fundamentilism, the Madrassas etc., are something else. I watched a BBC programme last week on the subject where a local Councillor in Birmingham states the same thing and calls this new radicalism
"not a religion but a mental illness"
ISS
Responding to Mr Mohamed Marikkar's comments Muslims long settled in the South speak more Sinhala, may I point out to them Tamil, nonetheless, is a form of identity. He will not deny even those
Muslims whose children study in Sinhala yet speak Tamil at home within themselves. And certainly in the Mosque and social gatherings. As a matter of interest, I might say Dr Badiui-din-Mahmud on the crest of the wave of the 1970 victory - when he was made Minister of Education - counselled Muslims to switch to Sinhalese. But most of them apparently did not - the cultural rooting was far deeper. And the man eventually had to come to terms with empirical reality in Madras.
ISS
I think, we should listen to the Tamil speaking people. They are not asking to make Sri Lanka Tamil, as some Sinhalese think.
Imagine a Sinhalese going to an office and in that office they only spoke Tamil or Arabic or English, and this person only understood Sinhalese. That is the case for the Tamils too. As a majourity, the Sinhalese should be more tolerant and help make this multi-linguistic country livable for other linguistic groups too, and make them feel wanted and welcome. If not, the Tamil speaking people should be given a seperate country, where they can administer their affairs, the way they want. It is too late to ask the Tamil speaking people to leave Sri Lanka. They are natives of the island, as much as the Sinhalese, maybe not in the same manner, but nevertheless, today, they belong ONLY here and can't jump in the sea, just because some Sinhalese have a problem.
Dear Friends,
I am Tamil speaking Indian,in India we speak more then 360 languages but we are united because we feel we are Indians, This happens only because of any one can became prime minister or president, member for a state assembly or for central government, there is no restriction on language and we have state divided by language so police and other local governing authority are from local language, all government transaction are don only in local language like police,land registration court,tax and public statements are issued in local language more over "just like our family,inside our family matters others can not interfere same way police are appointed by state government so people feel secure, for e.g if Malayalam speaking persons takes majority of police in a Hindi speaking area then people may think Malayalies dominating Hindi speaking people they automatically rise voice against Malayalies,same way in Malayalies area if Hindi people takes in charge as police.
IF SRILANKA HAS STATES LIKE INDIA LOCAL LANGUAGE SPEAKING PEOPLE WILL ELECT FROM THEIR PERSON AS C.M AND in INDIA ALL LANGUAGE PEOPLE JOINTED IN INDIAN MILITARY ALL PEOPLE LIKE HINDUS MUSLIMS CRISTIANS SIKHS JAINS AND NON RELIGIAN PEOPLE ARE ALSO IN INDIAN ARMY SO SRILANKA SHOULD GIVE SEPARATE STATE FOR TAMILS SO THEY MAY FEEL AS TAMIL STATE AS THEIR MOTHER LAND AND SINHALA PEOPLE FEEL THEIR STATE AS THEIR MOTHERLAND AND BOTH CAN UNIT AS SRILANKAN FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE WILL LOOK ONLY AS SRILANKAN
I THINK PERSONALLY TAMIL PEOPLE NEED A SEPERATE LAND - TAMIL EALAM
TAMILS ARE PEACE LOVING PEOPLE, TAMIL IS AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF INDIA, SRILANKA, SINGAPORE AND MORE THAN ONE MILLION LIVING IN MALAYSIA AS WELL. TAMILS IN THESE COUNTRIES ARE LIVING WITH PEACE & RESPECT, EXCEPT IN SRILANKA WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN KILLED, KIDNAPED, RAPED, NO SECURITY AT ALL, COME ON SINGALESE PEOPLE, LOOK AFTER TAMILS (hindus,muslims,christians) AND THEY WILL LOOK AFTER YOU AS YOU ARE THE MAJORITY PEOPLE TAKE THE LEAD PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, THANK YOU.