Sri Lankan Malays, also known in Sinhalese as Ja Minissu, are Sri Lankans with full or partial ancestry from the Malay Archipelago. The term is used as a catch-all term historically used for all natives of the Malay Archipelago who reside in Sri Lanka. They number approximately 40,000 and make up 0.20% of the Sri Lankan population, making them the fourth largest ethnic group in the country and are one of the five main ethnic groups of the country. Sri Lankan Malays first settled in the country when both Sri Lanka and Indonesia were Dutch colonies, while a second wave came from the Malay Peninsula, when both Malaya and Sri Lanka were in the British Empire. However, Sri Lanka has had a longer history of Malay presence dating back to as early as the 13th century. Distinct to the present daySri Lankan Malay population, these Malay migrants were primarily Buddhists who intermarried into the Sinhalese population. Sri Lankan scholars suggest that the Sinhalese population possess a notable Malay connection due to this, meaning a significant portion of the Sri Lankan population would have at least some Malay ancestry.
History
Significant Malay presence in Sri Lanka dated as early as 13th century, when Chandrabhanu Sridhamaraja, a Malay of Tambralinga managed to occupy northern part of the island in 1247, nonetheless the followers of Chandrabhanu assimilated into the local population. Many of the ancestors of present-day Sri Lankan Malays coming from soldiers posted by the Dutch which later continued by the British for colonial administration to Sri Lanka, who decided to settle on the island. Other immigrants were convicts or members of noble houses from Dutch East Indies who were exiled to Sri Lanka and who never left. The main source of a continuing Malay identity is their common Malay language, the Islamic faith and their ancestral origin from the Malay Archipelago. Many Sri Lankan Malays have been celebrated as courageous soldiers, politicians, sportsmen, lawyers, accountants and doctors.
Society
Demographics
Language
Depending on where they live in the country and other socio-economic factors Sri Lankan Malays speak Sinhala, Tamil and / or English. According to the 2012 Census 79.2% or 28,975 Sri Lankan Malays also spoke Tamil and 66.2% or 24,202 Sri Lankan Malays also spoke English.
Religion
Like their ancestors in present-day Indonesia and Malaysia, Sri Lankan Malays are Muslim. Mosques were erected by the local Malays along the coasts of Sri Lanka in places like Hambantota, Beruwela, and Galle. The Jawatte mosque in Colombo and Masjidul Jamiya, the military mosque in Slave Island, are acclaimed mosques renowned for their architecture and long history. The first two storeys of the Grand Mosque in Sri Lanka was built by Mohammed Balankaya, an exiled Malay noble of the royal house of Gowa. Today the mosque is of great significance and is a symbol of Muslims in Sri Lanka and is the Grand Mosque of Sri Lanka where decisions made here affect the lives of the island's Muslim population.
First and last names among Sri Lankan Malays are mostly of Sanskrit origin and are similar to names used by Sinhalese people. Common last names among Sri Lankan Malays include Jayah, Weerabangsa, Sinhawangsa/Sinhawansa, Jayawangsa, Singalaxana, Bangsa Jayah and Wangsa. Malay-origin last names common among Sri Lankan Malay include Lye, Chunchie, Doole, Kitchilan, Kutinun, Kanchil, Sainon, Bongso, Bohoran, Kuppen and Lappen. Arabic names are also used by Sri Lankan Malays including Saldin, Rahman, Drahaman, Bucker, Ramlan, Rajap, Jumat and Mannan. Prefixes of Malay origin such as Tuan, Maas and Raden for males and Gnei, Nona, Sitti Nona and Gnonya for females are commonly used as first names among Sri Lankan Malays.
Some place names in Sri Lanka have references, indicating the presence of Javanese and Malay communities or contribution to the location. Some of these are:
