| by Dr Rifai Naleemi
Contributions of Muslim people for the socio-political and economic development of Srilanka:
( February 4, 2013, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Srilanka Muslims have been living in peace and harmoeny in the Island for more than 1000 years. They have been cooperating and supporting the majority Singhalese communities throughout Srilankan history since pre-independence period. Since pre-colonial times, Muslim people in Srilanka have been contributing for the unity and integrity of Srilanka: Muslims have greatly contributed to Srilanka in many fields and yet, their contributions are sometimes not rightly recognized, highlighted or made to be known to non-Muslim people in Srilanka. It is a duty and responsibility of Muslim community to record all these contributions and made to be known to other communities in Srilanka. In pre-colonial times Muslim people in Srilanka introduced Srilankan spices, diamonds and gems to Arab world and they acted as mediators between local people of Srilanka and Arab traders of Middle East. During the time of colonialism Muslims of Srilanka defended the Island against all colonial powers and indeed, they stood with Srilankan Kings all times in history and they never been traitors of Island at any point in Srilanka history. Muslim leaders fought along Singhalese leaders to liberate the Island from English Rule.
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Peace and harmony is imperative for any progress and development. The safety and security of country and its people is paramount important for economic development; any social disturbance in Srilanka will greatly cost the country: any violence and communal tension will put the country back for more another two decades: It could be a huge blow on national economy and international reputation of Srilanka.
Unfortunately, Economic contributions of Srilankan Muslim have not been recognized. They did greater contributions for the economy of this country. Unlike other colonial people Muslim people did not run away with wealth of Srilanka to any other Muslim countries rather they worked hard in Srilanka and they earned money and contributed for Srilankan economy. Yet, Muslim contribution to Srilankan economy is not yet, well documented either historical contribution of Muslim to Srilankan economy or economic contributions of Muslims today. It is high time for Muslim people to document all these contributions so that people in Srilanka could appreciate Muslim people’s contribution to Srilanka. Muslims people have some natural skills and talents in ruing business. Muslim people are greatly interested in business for some religious, cultural and historical reasons in Srilanka. That talents, skills and experience should be recognized, encourage and rewarded for the greater interests of Srilanka. So that Srilanka become economically strong nation in Asia.
Politically Muslim people have been actively engaging in all political affairs of the country during the colonial and post colonial times: Muslim politicians stood with Singhalese people in time of difficulties and hardship. During the 30 years wars Muslim politicians helped as much as possible to find peaceful solution for the ethnic conflict and indeed, they supported the successive governments to protect the sovereignty of the Island. They never call for the partition of Srilanka at all.
In recent times Muslim people made many sacrifices to defend the country from the LTTE attacks: Thousands of Muslim people died during the thirty years of war with LLTE. Many Muslim army officers lost their lives in fighting with LTTE. More than 600 Muslim police officers were killed in Eastern province in LTTE attack in defense of Island in 1990 alone. Many Muslim traders and business people lost their trade and business in the war with LTTE. The entire northern Muslim people from Jaffna and Mannar are chased out from the north part of Srilanka. 100 thousands Muslims people lost all their belongings and properties in a single day. Without any human remorse or humanism LTTE chased out all Muslim people from Jaffna without any reason. Still today these Muslims are victimized and all successive Srilankan government failed in their moral and political duty to look after these innocent Muslims and still resettlement has not been made officially.
Some reckon that Muslims are greedy economic exploiters who want to accumulate wealth and lead a luxury style of life and sometimes they too point their fingers at some rich Muslim villages to support their arguments: Even one leading Non-Muslim Srilankan professor once said to me that Srilankan Muslim communities are people of traders and businessmen. As if we do not have any other missions/ contributions in Srilanka? This is a glimpse of other community people’s perception of Muslim community in Srilanka. I do not deny the fact that millions of Srilankan Non- Muslim people have good perception of Muslim community as well. Indeed, more than 95% Srilankan Non-Muslim people are getting own well with Muslim people. I do not need tell this Srilankan history itself witness this except a few isolated incidents in history Muslim people have been living in peace with Singhalese people more than 1000 years. This is an historical fact and we one deny and all historical studies support such claim.
It is wrong to believe that Muslims people have not made any contribution to Srilanka or the nation building process in Srilanka. Indeed, they have made many contribution and sacrifices. It is a duty of Srilankan governments to recognize these contributions and help Muslim people to integrate fully in Srilanka and like all other community Muslim people too greatly contribute to the Srilankan economy locally and internationally and unlike in the past today each nation depend on other nations for its development and progress: it is believed that more than 80% Srilankan Tea is exported to Middle Eastern countries or Muslim countries and it is believed that more 70% oil is imported from Muslim countries into Srilanka. Some of the major development projects are supported with help of Muslim nations in Srilanka and yet, why this hatred against Muslims people today in Srilanka? Some people assumed that some international conspirators are trying to do some dirty work behind to destabilize peace and harmony in Srilanka?
Muslims have greatly contributed to Srilanka in all fields of development: They have contributed for the safety and security of the country since ancient times. They have contributed economically since the Muslim landed in this Island. They have contributed educationally and culturally since the time of Muslim settlement in Srilanka. Yet, recent time some extreme elements have been trying tarnish good name of Muslim people for no reasons. These people recently started to make some false accusations on innocent peace loving Muslim community in Srilanka: it is generally believed that only a handful of people from the majority community have been engaging in this anti-Muslim campaign: It is believed that they are creating troubles in expectation that Muslim people should react to them: recent events for the last few years indicate that these people are making some deliberate attempt to destabilize Muslim community in Srilanka: Yet, Muslim contributions are not systematically documented in Srilanka. Even Muslim history in Srilanka is not really documented in Srilanka. We have only a few books on Srilankan Muslim history and Muslim people have been living in Srilanka for more than 1000 years and only a handful of books have been written on Muslim history, some of them have been written by Non-Muslim people. It is high time that Muslim academics write on this subject
Unfounded and unsubstantiated accusations of innocent Muslim people in Srilanka
Now abruptly Muslims have been accused of many things for no reasons. They have been alleged by some Buddhist extremist groups for no crimes they have committed; some Mass media, News papers, some radio stations, some TV stations and some websites have been tirelessly campaigning against innocent Muslim community in Srilankan: The most of accusations are unfounded , unrealistic and unwanted: some of them are mere deliberation. It is appropriate to record some of the accusations and reply to them here in this short article so that diligent people will know the truth and do justice for the innocent Muslim community in Srilanka. It is also often said that some international conspirators are acting behind the scene to destabilise the Muslim and Singhalese relationship in Srilanka. It is a historical fact that the Muslim people have been living in peace and harmony with all other communities in Srialnka. Whoever are the conspirators behind the scene (Only God Knows) it is a fact Muslim people are facing some problems and challenges in Srilanka these days: it is a fact that concerns each and every Srilankan Muslim today. I shall highlight some of contributions that Muslim people made in Srialnka here to remind our Singhalese friends and also I will repulse some of these unfounded accusations.
A Muslim theological organization (non-Political and Non profitable) organization has been accused of many things: It has been accused of accumulating money by issuing Halal certificates to Singhalese business enterprises, Muslim people are being accused of increasing their population growth to over come Singhalese population. It is alleged that Srilanka will be a Muslim country in 2050. It is alleged that Muslim people are marrying more than one wife. It is alleged that Muslim boys are marrying Singhalese .girls to increase Muslim population. Moreover, Muslim people are accused of building more mosques. Muslim people are accused of slaughtering cows and they are accused of converting Singhalese people into Islam:
The sacred places of Muslim people have been destroyed in many places, Muslim people shops and business places have been removed in some places, demonstrations are being carried out in many parts of Srilankan against very basic teaching of Islam. Islamic organizations are being of falsely accused of collocating with international terrorist organization: All Ceylon Muslim theological (Non- political and non-profitable organization that aim to provide services for humanity beyond all racial limitations. It has been providing service for Srilankan communities over 60 years in Srilankan.
Responses to these unfounded accusations and fabrication
Accusations against all Ceylon theological organization:
It is a registered organization and it does not engage in any political or violence at all. It does not have any connection or affiliation with any intentional organization at all. It is a grave mistake to accuse any organization without substantiated evidence and proof; Muslim people in Srilanka do not subscribe or belong to any international groups or any international networks: Muslim people in Srilanka are against all international extreme organisations. Indeed, Islam rejects all forms of violence and extremism and suicide killing of innocent people. This organization is a mere theological and spiritual organization that aims to uplift the moral, spiritual, religious needs of Muslim people. This is fundamental religious rights of each community in Srilanka.
The Issue of issuing Halal certificates:
The allegation against this certificate has been debated recently in many Srilankan News papers and TV stations: It is alleged that Muslim people are forcing Singhalese people to eat Halal food items. Halal food items are made only for Muslim customers locally and internationally and no one force any one to buy or consume Halal food items. It is entirely at people discretionary choice if they want they could buy it or they could buy some thing else. It is primarily made for international demands because of increasing tourists’ arrival and international markets. It is wrongly perceived that this organization has made this halal food certificate to make profits and spread Islam among Singhalese people. It is non-Muslim companies that approach All Ceylon Muslim theological organization to ask for this certificate and not other way around. In this competitive international marketing all companies will make every effort to increase profits and market their products in the best way to attract more customers. It would be a disaster for any business to think in any communal line: it does not work like that in this global and multicultural world and particularly in a country like Srilanka with four major religious groups.
In western countries all major supper markets have halal food products and they do not think in any religious or communal line and in cosmopolitan cities like London/ New York it is impossible to think in this line: Sooner or later in a few years time Srilankan capital will become one of cosmopolitan cities with people living from different nations. Alternatively, Muslim people have no objection if our Singhalese people have their own brand of food in the religious name: It is their freedom to eat what they want and Muslim people have no objection and this halal food certificate is made for business purpose and no one is under any duress to buy them:
It is alleged that this organization is a profit making organization: if it is so why can not these people check the accounts of this organization to examine all its financial transaction and expenditures: These are all fabrications and lies to tarnish the good name of this organization:
Muslim marrying Singhalese girls:
It is alleged that Muslims boys are marrying Singhalese girls: It is reported that this take place in Srilanka and on could argue that other way around as well. If Muslim boys are marrying it is not the fault of Muslim boys rather why Singhalese girls become friends of Muslim boys: Marriages can not take place without the contents of both parties: Why do Singhalese girls like Muslim boys? What are the reasons for that? Why attract them to go with Muslim boys? This is a sociological question that has to be asked by Singhalese medical, religious and academic people: It is not a fault of Muslim community or Muslim boys and they never force them to marry them? Why do they blame us for this social phenomenon? Today, we live in an age of information technology and people have all communication facilities and moreover, a large proportion of Singhalese girls go abroad and interact with Muslim boys in abroad. These give them freedom to marry Muslims and it is not our fault. Srilanka should ban sending all girls abroad.
Population growth of Muslim people in Srilanka:
According to the latest census of Srilankan population Muslim population has slightly increased and Singhalese population too has increased marginally. Rather than analyzing some socio-religious and economic factors behind this population increase no point in accusing Muslim community for population increase: Not only in Srilanka globally Muslim population increases dramatically: Islam as a principle does not permit excessive birth control/abortion for no reason. This is faith issue and that may be one of the reason that global Muslim population dramatically increases. Srilanka Muslims are not exceptional for this rule: Rather complaining about growth of Muslim people Singhalese people do some thing increase their population: today in our modern world healthy and skilled population of a nation is the great assert and wealth of that nation: So what if Muslim population increase it is good for the country as does Singhalese population growth? It is pity every aspect of social life has been seen in light of communal line and communal dichotomy. It is not good at all for the country that just comes out of the long wars.
Muslim Business
It can be said that most of Muslim people are doing some sort of business in Srilanka for some historical, political social, economical and religious reasons. Yet, to say that Muslims in Srilanka are a community of business people is a myth today and not a reality? Unlike in the past most of Muslim people are doing some retails business or some sort of small business. Or exchanging goods from one party to another for a small profit? In reality Muslim community today in Srilanka is not a community of business and industries rather they are a community of deprived and unemployed compared to any other community. Today we see most of Muslim youth are unemployed or are doing petty jobs in the Middle Eastern countries? Compare the employments rate of Muslim community people in Srilanka in public and private sectors: more than 60% Muslims are today unemployed and more than 60% Muslim people live below poverty line and Less than 4% of Muslim students get admission to the local universities in Srilanka annually or less than 1% of Muslim women are employed in Srilanka. Yet, we have been seen a community of business even today for some historical perceptions.
It is said that Muslim people are under represented in all types of government sectors and public administration jobs: How many percentages of Muslim graduates are recruited to SLAS service? How many percentages of Muslim graduates are recruited to SLES service? How many percentages of Muslim graduates are recruited for SLOS service? What are other public examinations? Muslim graduate do not are being selected in all these examination. This is despite the fact that Muslims graduates are fluent in three major national languages with some excellent qualifications. Despite all discriminations, prejudice and injustice Muslim people have been living in peace and harmony and yet, now these extreme elements want to further marginalize Muslim people? What an injustice is this? Do we get equal representation in all employments, and job market? It is in the interest of country that all communities are treated equally and fairly in all aspects of job opportunities. of course, Srilanka has a long tradition of protecting minority right and minority groups and yet, it is concerned of all communities that protection seems to be in jeopardy in these days.
Law college entrance:
Skills, knowledge, talents and qualification should be given preference over other criteria in selections of process for high education and employment. This is in a greater interest of nation. What is the point in giving admission for less talented persons to become lawyers at the expense of more qualified student? This is waste of national talent and national skills: A more qualified law/medical student of Srilankan origin could become internationally recognized legal/medical professional on the other hand if we give admission to a less qualified person at the expense of the qualified students he or she may kill more people though his medical negligence or unprofessional attitudes. In each and every field Srilanka should have some strict criterion to select and elect highly qualified people in all posts and careers. Otherwise, we will be wasting our talents and skills. Whoever has got skills and talents in Srilanka such skills and talents should be recognized and reward for the greater interest of the country? People should not be discriminated in line of colour, race and religions in a country like Srilanka:
The reconciliation is timely needed:
Peace and harmony is imperative for any progress and development. The safety and security of country and its people is paramount important for economic development; any social disturbance in Srilanka will greatly cost the country: any violence and communal tension will put the country back for more another two decades: It could be a huge blow on national economy and international reputation of Srilanka. Already some countries are still trying find fault in some internal affairs of Srilanka and any communal tension at this juncture will give them one more opportunity to put all blame on Srilankan government and it is duty of this government to act quickly against all these communal hatred activities. It will tarnish the good name of entire Srilankan community internationally. A handful of people today could give bad name for the 14 million good Singhalese people. It is in the greater interest of country and Singhalese people to act swiftly against this racist anti-social behavior of a few hundred people. Srilankan can not afford to loose a good reputation that is being built up after the way: it is high time now to fully engage in nation building process and attract more investment from international community and attract more tourists to Srilanka. Any social disturbance will put the country off from international tourism and investment and the country may go back to the dark age once again as it was for more than 30 years: Years of fear, uncertainty and desperation. I hope that Singhalese people are today cleaver enough to know the consequence of the 30 years wars and hence, the majority would not endorse these anti-social behaviors of a handful people.
What could be done?
In a recent meeting with Bdu Bala Sena the President reiterated that Singhalese people live in peace with all communities and there is no room for violence in Srilanka: all priests who met the President assured that they do not endorse violence: Priests form the Bodu Bala Sena added that they too do not condone such behavior. Referring to the protest in front of the Nolimit store in Maharagama, one of the Buddhists priests said, “We said don’t do it. It’s not good for Buddhism or the country. Let’s fix problems within our own religion. Let’s learn from the Muslim community and their discipline.”. For several questions that arose pertaining to the Halal certification, President Rajapaksa and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa outlined in detail the Halal certification process and the reasons for its use by businesses.Before the discussion ended, President Rajapaksa once again repeated his request for Buddhist priests to help maintain ethnic and religious harmony in the country. “It is OK to work to strengthen the Buddhist religion, but it should be done without creating conflicts with other religions,”
President Rajapaksa said. Thus assurance is very good to ease the tension and we all should welcome such move and yet, there must of concrete actions against those who violate law and order in the country: there can not one law for Muslims and another for Singhalese: Police and security forces should act swiftly to maintain peace and order in the country.
It is responsibility of Buddhist religious and academic leadership to calm the situation by talking these extreme elements in their society: BBS group not only going to tarnish good name of the country but also good name of majority of Buddhists rtelgious leadership as well. BBS should know that they are trying to destroy the country by this type of extreme action against Muslims: it national asserts of Srilanka that they are trying to destroy. It will be huge blow to economy as the chairman of Colombo chambers of commerce has already warned: I think that all religious leaders should set together and talk about these issues and solve the problems once and forever rather than talking about these in press and media: We need to move on in a right direct sooner rather later:
