Sinhalisation

Sinhalisation is a term that has number of meanings in Sri Lanka. Etymologically it is derived from Sinhala.

ociological

From a sociological point of view it could mean the assimilation of ethno cultural minorities in Sri Lanka such as the Sri Lankan Tamils, Colombo Chetties and indigenous Veddas into the majority Sinhalese identity. [ Susantha Goonetilleke, "Sinhalisation: Migration or Cultural Colonization?" Lanka Guardian Vol. 3, No. I, May I, 1980, pp. 22-29, and May 15 1980, pp. 18-19.]

It is specially noted with respect to Sinhalese speaking Catholics of the coastal areas of the island nation. [ Power and Religiosity in a Post-Colonial Setting: Sinhala Catholics in Contemporary Sri Lanka by R. L. Stirrat American Ethnologist, Vol. 22, No. 2 (May, 1995), pp. 428-429]

Many noted elite cref|elite families were supposedly Sinhalised during the pre colonial period from foreign origins. [ "History of the Colombo Chetties" by Deshabandu Reggie Candappa published in December, 2000] (see [http://lakdiva.org/suntimes/010708/plus6.html abstract here] )

Political

From a political point of view it could mean the Sinhala language favoring policies cref|PSof the post colonial governments of Sri Lanka that is considered to be a the roote cause [cite web |url= http://www.paradisepoisoned.com/PDFs/Preview21.pdf
title= How it Came to This – Learning from Sri Lanka’s Civil Wars By Professor John Richardson|accessdate=2006-03-30 |format= |work=paradisepoisoned.com] of the current Sri Lankan civil war. It is termed as culturo-ideological exclusivism by some which is a sense in which one's cultural values and norms are absolutised in such a manner that a particular way of life is enshrined as superior to all others and must therefore be adopted by others (e.g. the Tamil reaction to the perceived "Sinhalisation" processes of the Sri Lankan state) [cite web |url= http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/kuala-docs13-makarios.pdf |title= Ethnic Identity, National Identity and the Search for Unity|accessdate=2006-03-30 |format= |work=World Council of Churches]

It was said to be triggering cause of the abortive coup by disgruntled Catholic army officers in 1962. [cite web |url= http://www.hindustantimes.in/news/7752_1708229,004100180006.htm
title= Significance of the abortive 1962 military coup|accessdate=2006-03-30 |format= |work=Hindustan Times]

Currently some observers note that Sri lankan political parties such as JHU and JVP adhere to a policy of political Sinhalisation process. [cite web |url= http://www.uthr.org/Briefings/Briefing6.htm
title= The Human Rights and Humanitarian Fallout from the Sri Lankan Government’s Eastern Agenda and the LTTE’s Obduracy|accessdate=2006-03-30 |format= |work=UTHR]

Notes

ee also

*Sri Lankan Mudaliyars
*Bharatakula
*Negombo Tamils

References

External links

* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~lkawgw/mampuri.htm Sinhalisation of a costal village in Puttalam district]
* [http://www.infolanka.com/org/kalaya/fea006.htm Sinhalisation of the Vedda community]