Muslims in Harmony and Conflict in Plural Sri Lanka: A Historical Summary from a Religio-economic and Political Perspective

Ali, A. (2014) Muslims in Harmony and Conflict in Plural Sri Lanka: A Historical Summary from a Religio-economic and Political Perspective. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 34 (3). pp. 227-242.

Abstract

Islam and Muslims in Sri Lanka have a history of more than a millennium. During this long period their economic and religious experience had been one of fluctuating fortunes beginning with harmony and prosperity under Buddhist monarchs to repression and misery under Western colonialists. Economic freedom under native rulers, mercantilist restrictions under the Portuguese and Dutch and open economy under the British brought alternative episodes of economic affluence and depression to Muslims. After independence however, under a democratic polity the community adopted a pragmatic approach to the new situation which allowed Muslims and Islam to enjoy once again decades of peaceful coexistence and relative prosperity, until political and economic circumstances of the country changed dramatically to create an environment of anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic phobia. What follows is a historical narration of these vicissitude retold from a religio-economic and political perspective.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Management and Governance
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis
Copyright:	Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs
Notes:	Published online: 25 July 2014
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/28155

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