Sinhalisation
Encyclopedia
Sinhalisation is a term that has number of meanings in Sri Lanka
. Etymologically it is derived from Sinhala.
of ethno cultural minorities in Sri Lanka such as the Sri Lankan Tamils, Colombo Chetties
and indigenous Veddas into the majority Sinhalese identity.
It is specially noted with respect to Sinhalese speaking Catholics of the coastal areas of the island nation
.
Many noted elite families were supposedly Sinhalised during the pre colonial period
from foreign origins. (see abstract here)
of the post colonial governments of Sri Lanka that is considered to be a major cause 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)
It was said to be triggering cause of the abortive coup by disgruntled Catholic army officers in 1962.
Currently some observers note that Sri Lankan political parties such as JHU
and JVP
adhere to a policy of political Sinhalisation process.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Etymologically it is derived from Sinhala.
Sociological
From a sociological point of view it could mean the assimilationCultural assimilation
Cultural assimilation is a socio-political response to demographic multi-ethnicity that supports or promotes the assimilation of ethnic minorities into the dominant culture. The term assimilation is often used with regard to immigrants and various ethnic groups who have settled in a new land. New...
of ethno cultural minorities in Sri Lanka such as the Sri Lankan Tamils, Colombo Chetties
Colombo Chetties
Colombo Chetty, also known as Colombo Chetties, Colombo Chittis or Colombo Hetties, are a formerly endogamous Sri Lankan social group or caste.- Origins :...
and indigenous Veddas into the majority Sinhalese identity.
It is specially noted with respect to Sinhalese speaking Catholics of the coastal areas of the island nation
Island nation
An island country is a state whose primary territory consists of one or more islands or parts of islands. As of 2011, 47 of the 193 UN member states are island countries.-Politics:...
.
Many noted elite families were supposedly Sinhalised during the pre colonial period
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
from foreign origins. (see abstract here)
Political
From a political point of view it could mean the Sinhala language favouring policiesSinhala Only Act
The Sinhala Only Act was a law passed in the Ceylonese parliament in 1956...
of the post colonial governments of Sri Lanka that is considered to be a major cause of the current Sri Lankan civil war
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
. It is termed as culturo-ideological exclusivism
Exclusivism
Excluvisism is the practice of being exclusive; mentality characterized by the disregard for opinions and ideas other than one's own, or the practice of organizing entities into groups by excluding those entities which possess certain traits like Christopher Columbus..-Religious...
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)
It was said to be triggering cause of the abortive coup by disgruntled Catholic army officers in 1962.
Currently some observers note that Sri Lankan political parties such as JHU
Jathika Hela Urumaya
The Jathika Hela Urumaya is a political party in Sri Lanka which is led by Buddhist monks. The JHU was launched in February, 2004 by the lay-based, secular Sinhala nationalist political party Sihala Urumaya. Founding members include Kolonnawe Sumangala Thero, Uduwe Dhammaloka Thero, Ellawela...
and JVP
JVP
JVP may stand for:*Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, People's Liberation Front, a Sri Lankan Socialist Party.*Jerusalem Venture Partners, an Israeli-American media venture capital....
adhere to a policy of political Sinhalisation process.