News: Muslims

Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka\'s evicted Muslims return to their original places in Jaffna (Sri Lanka - latest news stories and top headlines)

[Editors' note: Submission to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, 4th of November, 2010.] Northern Muslims in Post Conflict Sri Lanka The entire Muslim community of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province – numbering approximately 75,000 persons, were expelled by the LTTE in a systematic and organized manner during a two week period in October 1990. Northern Muslims were 5% of the Population of the Province and hailed from the five districts of Jaffna Mannar Kilinochchi Mulaitiwu and Vavuniya Today, many of them remain displaced in dire conditions in areas outside the war zone. A 2006 UNHCR survey claims that there are 63,145 individuals living in 141 separate settlements in Puttalam district alone. October this year marks twenty years since the expulsion. And over one year since the war ended. Today the Northern Muslims are anticipating return after twenty years in displacement and the time that has passed since the expulsion has created conditions that are unique to the Northern Muslim experience. Given that the LTTE is no longer a factor there is a real possibility of return without the threat of a repeated expulsion. The possibility of resuming farming and fishing and moving out of a life of poverty in Puttalam and elsewhere seems an actual possibility for many. Many are hoping for assistance to resettle and start livelihood activities and to rebuild Muslim communities in the North

Charles Haviland reports on some Muslim families who are returning north to land from which they were displaced 20 years ago during the civil war.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sri Lankan Americans who are part of the Washington area Muslim community joined together at the Embassy of Sri Lanka Sept. 5 to celebrate Ifthar, or the breaking of the fast, as part of Ramadan.