A Histo - geographical review of Sri Lankan Muslims: Special reference to Matara District, southern Sri Lanka

Abstract

To day, ethnic studies, multi-culturism, social integration and the appreciation of demographic diversity are engaging with the attention and interest of people all over the world. Despite the present ethnic crisis of Sri Lanka, as a multi-ethnic cultural and multi-religious country, Sri Lankan muslims has a long history and form a strong ethnic harmony over ten centuries and empowered the social integration up to now. Muslims of Sri Lankan, one of the ethnic groups form the second largest minority in the island next to the Tamils and constitute around eight percent of the island4s population. Existing litrerature, archeological and monumental records of Southern Sri Lanka reveal, that their history of settlements goes back to the pre-Islamic era and that the locational patterns of muslims’ settlements of the southern province has prevailed during a long historical period. Such patterns have changed from time to time due to the various socio-economic and political reasons. At this juncture, the author, supposes that this sort of studies will make a substantial contribution in understanding to Sri Lankan muslims immensely, which is vital today to comfort and confront new and complex problems.