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).
| Meera Makam Mosque | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Province | Central Province |
| Location | |
| Location | 2 Wariyapola Sri Sumangala Mawatha |
| Municipality | Kandy |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
  Shown within Sri Lanka | |
| Geographic coordinates | 7°17′54″N 80°38′07″E / 7.2983333°N 80.6352778°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | mosque |
| Style | Baroque |
| Completed | 1864 |
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
editReferences
edit- ^ "Meera Makam Mosque, Kandy". Centre for Islamic Studies. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ Pieris, Anoma, ed. (2019). Architecture on the Borderline: Boundary Politics and Built Space. Routledge. p. 238. ISBN 9781351594998.
- ^ "What the President said at 2013 Independence Day celebrations". Daily FT. 4 February 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Attacks on Places of Religious Worship in Post-War Sri Lanka. Colombo: Centre for Policy Alternatives. March 2013. p. 52.
- ^ "Nawaz Sharif at Meera Makkam Mosque". Sunday Observer. 10 January 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- ^ "Pakistan PM here tomorrow on three day visit". The Sunday Times. 3 January 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ "First Mosque Tour in Kandy at Meera Makam Mosque". Sailan Muslim Foundation. September 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ "First mosque tour in Kandy a success". Daily Mirror. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2022.