ABSTRACT
The outbreak of violence between Muslims and Tamils, especially in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province, drew national and international attention to the complexities of the island's ethnic problems. Most Muslims speak the language of the district in which they live; while a great many are bilingual, speaking both Sinhala and Tamil. Ethnic stereotypes popular in the island portray the Muslims as largely a trading and business community. The early-1940s marked the beginnings of a significant change in the Muslims' attitude to the nationalist movement as well as a reappraisal of their position on the impending transfer of power. Muslims—in striking contrast to Tamils — have no distinct ethnic or religious political parties of their own to contest seats to Parliament in competition with the main national political parties. Muslims have been inveterate opponents of any attempt to tamper with Sri Lanka's existing unitary political structure.
