Memons in Sri Lanka
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 7,000 - 10,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Sri Lanka | |
| Languages | |
| Memoni, Tamil, Sinhalese | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Memons, Sri Lankan Moors, Sri Lankan Malays |
The Memons in Sri Lanka arrived from Sindh (in modern Pakistan) in the 1870s. Sunni Muslim by origin, the Memon people are entrepreneurs who settled in Sri Lanka for business opportunities during the colonial period. Some of these people came to the country as far back as the Portuguese period; others arrived during the British period from various parts of India.
History
In late 1900, some Memon merchants - mainly from Kutiyana, Porbandar and Upleta - travelled to Ceylon (now day Sri Lanka) to trade. They imported textile goods from India and sold them locally.
After independence in 1947, Memons businessmen brought their families and settled permanently.
See also
References
Further reading
- Memons of Sri Lanka - Men Memoirs Milestones. Asiff Hussein and Hameed Karim Bhoja. (2006). Published by The Memon Association of Sri Lanka. ISBN 955-1408-00-4
External links
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