The International Conference on Sri Lankan Malays was successfully held on the 9th of October,2022.
The International Institute for Muslim Unity (IIMU) and the Revealed Knowledge and
Human Sciences Graduate society (REHGSOC) of International Islamic University Malaysia
jointly organized the conference.
The event’s title was ‘The Lost Cousins: Sri Lankan Malays’ It was moderated by Br Mohamed Ashath, the President of REHGSOC, and chaired by Prof. Dawood al-Hidabi, the director of IIMU. The fundamental aim of the conference was to introduce the cultural heritage of Sri Lankan Malays and the contemporary challenges they face to the broader global audience.
Buddhism is the dominant religion of Sri Lanka, followed by 75 percent of the population. According to the 2012 census, Muslims comprise only 9 percent (approximately 1.9 million); among them, Muslims who identified as Malays can be counted between 50 000 – 80000. Most of them are the descendants of Malay soldiers brought to Sri Lanka in the 17th century by the Dutch.
However, some historians argue that Sri Lankan Malays first settled in the country around 200 B.C. when the Austronesian expansion reached the Island from maritime Southeast Asia. Likewise, a few other scattered Malay settlements are identified as the descendants of Javanese Princes, who were exiled to Sri Lanka because they rebelled against the Dutch colonial rule.
The conference consisted of three presentations focusing on the various aspects of the Sri Lankan Malay community. In his keynote address, Prof. Emeritus DR. B. A. HUSSAINMIYA, who studied Sri Lankan Malay identity and history for decades, presented the historical and cultural developments of the Sri Lankan Malays. For his part, the chief guest YBhg Prof Datuk Seri Dr. Awang Sariyan shed light on the socio-cultural connectivity between Malaysia and Sri Lankan Malays. Moreover, he briefed about previous initiatives of Malaysia aimed at enriching the cultural heritage of Sri Lankan Malays. He agreed to support Sri Lankan Malays to empower their Malay language.
Sheikh M. Arkam Nooramith presented a critical overview of the contribution of Malay Muslim scholars to Islamic religious scholarship in Sri Lanka. He specifically mentioned Sheik Yusuf Al-Makasari, an anti-colonial freedom fighter, banished to Sri Lanka by Dutch.
Al-Makasari continued his Islamic activism in Sri Lanka while authoring seven books during his stay on the Island, including “Al Barakath As Sailaniya” (Sailan’s Blessings) and “Al Nafahath Al Sailaniya” (Breezes from Sailan). T.K Azoor, the president of the conference of Sri Lankan Malays, delivered the session’s final presentation explaining the current situation of Sri Lankan Malays and the socio-economic challenges they face. It is known that Sri Lankan Malays have been contributing to the
development of the country in many ways.
The event concluded with remarks from Associate Prof. Fatmir Shehu, Deputy Director IIMU, who stressed the importance of strengthening the idea of Muslim unity in the age of division and social polarization.
The International Institute of Muslim Unity is a scholarly endeavor managed by International
Islamic University Malaysia to address the issues pertaining to the global Muslim community.
This conference on Sri Lankan Malays falls under its recent interest to explore the socio-political challenges of Muslim minorities in the contemporary world. In that regard, IIMU has already organized several seminars discussing the plight of Muslim minority communities in Philipines,Thailand, India.-By Ashath Siraas, Phd (NewsNow)
