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by | Mar 16, 2018 | Hosta

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Meera Makam Mosque, also known as Meera Maccam Masjid or Meera Maqam Masjid, is one of the oldest and largest mosques in Kandy, Sri Lanka.[1] It is located at the corner of Wariyapola Sri Sumangala Mawatha and Gamini Dissanayake Mawatha (formerly Hill and Brownrigg Streets).

The land for the mosque was gifted to a Muslim courtier by the King of Kandy, Kirhi Sri Rajasinha, from land owned by the Asgiri Maha Viharaya.[2][3] Construction on the current mosque commenced in 1855 and was completed in 1864.

The mosque is named in memory of Nagore Sahul Hameed Meeran Sahib Wali, a mystic Sufi saint and Islamic preacher. His student, Shaik Sayyid Sahabdeen Waliyullah, is buried in the mosque.

The building is rectangular with a distinctive façade, painted white with green accents. It has no main minaret or dome.

The mosque has been the site of numerous incidents of anti-Muslim violence, including the defacing of its walls in January 2013 and the stoning of the building on 11 July 2015.[4][5]

On 6 January 2016 the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, and his wife, attended the mosque, as part of his state visit to Sri Lanka.[6][7]

On 20 September 2017 the Centre for Islamic Studies and the trustees of the mosque, opened the building up to the public, as part of the country's first 'Open Mosque Day'.[8][9] The event was held to build bridges with the wider community.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Meera Makam Mosque, Kandy". Centre for Islamic Studies. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  2. ^ Pieris, Anoma, ed. (2019). Architecture on the Borderline: Boundary Politics and Built Space. Routledge. p. 238. ISBN 9781351594998.
  3. ^ "What the President said at 2013 Independence Day celebrations". Daily FT. 4 February 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  4. ^ Sarjoon, A.; Yusoff, M. A.; Hussin, N. "Religions". Anti-Muslim Sentiments and Violence: A Major Threat to Ethnic Reconciliation and Ethnic Harmony in Post-War Sri Lanka. 7. MDPI: 5.
  5. ^ Attacks on Places of Religious Worship in Post-War Sri Lanka. Colombo: Centre for Policy Alternatives. March 2013. p. 52.
  6. ^ "Nawaz Sharif at Meera Makkam Mosque". Sunday Observer. 10 January 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Pakistan PM here tomorrow on three day visit". The Sunday Times. 3 January 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  8. ^ "First Mosque Tour in Kandy at Meera Makam Mosque". Sailan Muslim Foundation. September 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  9. ^ "First mosque tour in Kandy a success". Daily Mirror. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
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