| Revision as of 19:21, 30 December 2013 editR'n'B (talk | contribs)Administrators421,599 editsm Disambiguated: Felix Reginald Dias Bandaranaike → Felix Reginald Dias Bandaranaike I← Previous edit | Revision as of 20:41, 16 June 2014 edit undo59.158.247.90 (talk) →AftermathNext edit → | ||
| Line 51: | Line 51: | ||
| After 1915 a number of Sinhala leaders gradually emerged who were to leave an indelible mark on the political life of the country. Similarly, ] took hold, in the beginning led by reformers in the name of religion.<ref name="Atimes"/> | After 1915 a number of Sinhala leaders gradually emerged who were to leave an indelible mark on the political life of the country. Similarly, ] took hold, in the beginning led by reformers in the name of religion.<ref name="Atimes"/> | ||
| The event also led to a major distrust between the ] and the ]<ref name="Sinhalese-Muslim Riots of 1915; A Synopsis"/> who shared a common ] and strong cultural traditions. Also Muslims would side up with the Sinhalese against the indigenous Tamils to protect their political turf and business interests in the later ethnic conflict that would take place between the two communities after the country's independence.<ref name="Atimes"/> | The event also led to a major distrust between the ] and the ]<ref name="Sinhalese-Muslim Riots of 1915; A Synopsis"/> who shared a common ] and strong cultural traditions. Also Muslims would side up with the Sinhalese against the indigenous Tamils to protect their political turf and business interests in the later ethnic conflict that would take place between the two communities after the country's independence.<ref name="Atimes"/> | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 20:41, 16 June 2014
| 1915 Anti-Muslim Riots | |
|---|---|
 Location of Sri Lanka | |
| Location | Sri Lanka |
| Date | 29th May-1 July 1915 (+6 GMT) |
| Target | Primarily Sri Lankan Moors |
| Attack type | Decapitation, Burning, Rape, Shooting |
| Weapons | Knives, Sticks, Fire, Guns and Explosives |
| Deaths | 25 + |
| Injured | 180 + |
| Perpetrators | Sinhalese extremists |
The 1915 Sinhalese Muslim riots or the 1915 riots was an widespread and prolonged ethinc riot in the island of Sri Lanka between Sinhalese Buddhists and those of the Sri Lankan Muslim community.
The riots of 1915 was one of the first outbreak of violence between different communities of the island.
Events
The first outbreak of violence began on 29 May in the hill-station town of Kandy owing to a dispute between Buddhist Monks who were predominantly Sinhalese and Muslims of the town when members of the Muslim community, objected to an Buddhist religious procession was being conducted in the vicinity of a nearby mosque. The other possible cause might have been the Sinhalese resentment to refurbishment of existent mosques and construction of newer ones in the region.
In the early hours of the morning, a Sinhalese mob torched a local mosque in the area and began to attack Muslim homes and businesses in the area. During the next nine days or so the clashes and assaults spread through the Central, North Western, Western, Southern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces; and at one point, on the 2nd June, were reported to be occurring simultaneously at 116 centres.
Large crowds were involved in the attacks on the Moors; mobs of over a thousand were reported at Matale, Wattegama, Kadugannawa, Gampola, Rambukkana, Panadura, Godapitiya and Akuressa.
While Muslims were the ones who were more systematically targeted, there were isolated incidents of armed-Muslim violence against Sinhalese.
People from the Tamil minority also suffered violence due to popular Tamil politician Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan's overtly siding with the Sinhalese, infuriated the local Tamil-speaking Muslims.
Casualties and damage
According to the official estimates, which must be taken as approximate, there were 25 murdered. 189 wounded, 4 incidents of rape. 4075 houses and boutiques looted, 250 houses and boutiques burned down, 17 mosques burnt and 86 mosques otherwise damaged.
Government reaction
The then British Government of Ceylon governed by Sir Robert Chalmers came down with a heavy hand on the Sinhalese community and declared martial law on 2 June 1915 and ordered the police and the Army to shoot any one who they deemed a rioter without a trial.
The colonial government arrested many prominent Sinhalese politicians and leaders on charges of treason and their houses were searched. Those arrested included D C Senanayake, his brothers, F R Senanayake, D.S. Senanayake (later the first prime minister of Ceylon), D B Jayatilaka, W A de Silva, F R Dias Bandaranaike, E T de Silva, Dr Casius Ferreira, C Batuvantudawe, D P A Wijewardene, John de Silva, W H W Perera, Martinus Perera, John M Senivaratne, H Amarasurya, D E Weerasuriya, Reverent G D Lanerolle, E A P Wijeyeratne, Harry Mel, A H E Molamure, D B Jayatilaka, A E Goonesinha, Battaramulla Unanse - a monk, Edmund and Dr C A Hewavitharatne, the brothers of Anagarika Dharmapala, who was also interned in Calcutta, where he had been during the unrest. After the arrests, riot compensation was exacted under threat of force.
Aftermath
The events of 1915 would ultimately be what would be called the unfolding of explicit manifestation of ethnic tensions in the country which was to increase in number and intensity once the country attained independence.
After 1915 a number of Sinhala leaders gradually emerged who were to leave an indelible mark on the political life of the country. Similarly, Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism took hold, in the beginning led by reformers in the name of religion.
The event also led to a major distrust between the Tamil and the Moor community who shared a common native language and strong cultural traditions. Also Muslims would side up with the Sinhalese against the indigenous Tamils to protect their political turf and business interests in the later ethnic conflict that would take place between the two communities after the country's independence.
See also
References
- ^
- when a group of Muslim attacked a Buddhist pageant with stones
- ^ Jstor.org
- ^
- ^
- Kearney, R.N.: The 1915 riots in Ceylon – a symposium; Introduction. Journal of Asian Studies, Feb.1970, vol.29, no.2, pp.219-222.
- Jayewardena, K.: Economic and Political Factors in the 1915 riots. Journal of Asian Studies, Feb.1970, vol.29, no.2, pp.223-233.
- Blackton, C.S.: The action phase of the 1915 riots. Journal of Asian Studies, Feb.1970, vol.29, no.2, pp.235-254.
- Rutnam, J.T.: The Rev.A.G.Fraser and the riots of 1915. Ceylon Journal of Historical and Social Studies, July–December 1971, vol.1, no.2 (new series), pp.151-196.
- Vythilingam, M.: The Life of Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, vol.2 (1910-1930), 1977, chapters 10 (Riots-1915, pp.229-250), 11 (Riots-Speeches, pp.251-320) and 12 (Ramanathan’s Mission to England – His Return, pp.321-330).
- ^