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Sri Lankans in Melbourne : Factors Influencing Patterns of Ethnicity

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Sri Lankans in Melbourne : Factors Influencing Patterns of Ethnicity SRI LANKANS IN MELBOURNE : FACTORS INFLUENCING PATTERNS OF ETHNICITY BY SI SIRA KUMARA PINNAWALA This thesis is submitted in fulfilm e nt of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Australian National University, Canberra. Submitted May, 1984 ii ABSTRACT This study examines ethnic relations among Sri Lankan immigrants in Melbourne. It argues that though ethnicity is an ideology, the relationship between ethnic phenomena and social structural relations is not a deterministic one. There is an interdependency between the two so ethnic phenomena must be explained by examining the interaction between ideology and social structure. This interactive relationship is explained by examining patterns of ethnicity among Sri Lankans in Mel bourne. Two patterns of ethnicities among Sri Lankans are examined in the study. They are the home country ethnic identifications and the new 'Sri Lankan' identity that is being formed in the Australian context. This study explains these two by examining the influence of factors related to both home society and host society on Sri Lankans in Mel bourne. iii DECLARATION This thesis contains no material published elsewhere, except where due reference is made in the thesis, and is not and has not been used for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university, nor has it been written in collaboration with any other person. (Sisira Kumara Pinnawala) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of those who helped me in this study either directly or indirectly, certain individuals deserve special mention. I am indebted to Dr Frank Lewi ns for his interest and encouragement throughout the study. This study on the whole is a result of countless discussions I had with him during the past four years as one of his students in the Department of Sociology. I am also grateful to Dr Owen Dent for tolerating my frequent interruptions to his busy schedule during the in itia l stages of data analysis. Thanks must go also to Mrs Shirley Halton for helping me in computer work and Mrs Ettie Oakman who did an excellent job in typing this in a very short period of time. During fie ld work in Melbourne I was helped by a number of Sri Lankans. Though i t is not possible to acknowledge all of them, Messrs Victor Melder, Prasanna Mendis and H.L.D. Mahindapala deserve a special mention here. Finally, I must acknowledge the encouragement of Carslisle and the special contribution of Charnis, my wife, whose encouragement, interest and most of all criticisms were indispensable. V TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1 Rationale of the Study 3 Sources of Data and Field Work 5 Organisation of the Study 9 CHAPTER I I THE NEED FOR AN INTERACTIONAL FRAMEWORK TO UNDERSTAND ETHNIC PHENOMENA 11 Theoretical Developments in the Study of Ethnic Differences 13 A. The Primordial ist Ethnic Tradition 17 B. The Situationalist Ethnic Tradition 19 Situationality, Primordial Sentiments and Ethnicity 24 Ethnicity, Ideology and Structure 30 CHAPTER I I I ETHNIC RELATIONS IN SRI LANKAN SOCIETY 38 Ethnic D ivisio n s in S ri Lankan Society 39 A. Sinhalese 41 B. Tamils 44 C. Burghers 46 D. Moors 48 E. Other Ethnic Communities 50 Ethnic Boundaries and Ethnic Interaction 51 The Emergence o f the Present Ethnic Relations Structure 54 A. The Role of Colonial Occupation 56 B. The Post Independent Ethnic Conflict 60 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont.) Page CHAPTER IV SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF SRI LANKANS IN AUSTRALIA 69 Sri Lankan Immigration to Australia 70 A. Pre-World War II Immigrants 71 B. Post-World War II Immigrants 75 Demographic Characteristies of Sri Lankans in Australia Comparative Examination of Sri Lankans in Australia with Emphasis on Sri Lankans in Melbourne CHAPTER V PATTERNS OF ETHNICITY AMONG SRI LANKANS IN MELBOURNE 94 Understanding Ethnicity Among Immigrants 95 Three Sociological Types Among Sri Lankans 102 in Melbourne A. Ethnic Assimilationists 104 B. Ethnic Integrationists 107 C. Ethnic Traditionais 111 D. Patterns of Social Interaction of Sri Lankans 112 Home Country Ethnic Identifications 125 A. Sinhalese Identity 125 B. Burgher Identity 127 C. Tamil Identity 128 Sri Lankan Ethnic Identity 132 Changes of Ethnicity in Relation to Sri Lanka 135 CHAPTER VI FACTORS INFLUENCING PATTERNS OF ETHNICITY 140 Ideology and Structure in the Explanation of Ethnicity Among Immigrants 141 vi i TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont.) Page CHAPTER VI (Cont.) Factors Influencing Home Country Ethnicity 143 A. Factors Influencing Burgher Identity 144 B. Factors Influencing Sinhalese and Tamil Identities 148 Sri Lankan Identity and Group Formation 154 Sri Lankans in Australia and the Ethnic Process 165 CHAPTER VII CONCLUSION 171 Theoretical Contributions of the Study 173 Policy Implications of the Study 182 Suggestions for Further Research 184 APPENDIX I 187 Outline of Information Sought in Interviews 188 Field Work in Melbourne 190 APPENDIX II 192 Ethnic Breakdown of the Interviewees 193 Religious Breakdown of the Interviewees 193 Educational Qualifications of the Interviewees 194 Occupations of the Interviewees 194 Time of Arrival of the Interviewees 195 Ethnicity of the Marriage Partner and the Interviewees 195 Experience of Discrimination of the Interviewees 196 Interviewees and Permanent Friendship Networks with Australians 196 Summary Table of Occupational Distribution Compared with that of Sri Lankans in the Sample 197 Study Sample Compared with the Distribution of Sri Lankans in Melbourne 198 vi i i TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont.) Page APPENDIX III 199 Occupational Distribution of Sri Lankans in Melbourne 200 Employment Data of Sri Lankans in Melbourne 201 Sri Lankans in Melbourne by Age and Sex 202 Sri Lankans in Melbourne and Australian Citizenship 203 Marital Status of Sri Lankans in Melbourne 204 Usage of English Among Sri Lankans in Australia and Victoria by Age 205 Family Income by Income Unity Type Among Sri Lankans in Victoria and Australia 206 Period of Residence and Occupational Distribution of Sri Lankans in Melbourne 207 Period of Residence and Occupational Distribution of Sri Lankans : Australian Total 208 Distribution of Sri Lankans by States 209 Distribution of Sri Lankans in Local Government Areas in Melbourne (1976) 210 BIBLIOGRAPHY 211 230 ADDENDUM :**, V ; ix LIST OF TABLES Tabl e Page 3.1 Ethnic Composition of the Population of Sri Lanka 39 3.2 Religious Composition of the Population of Sri Lanka 40 3.3 Percentage of Employed Sri Lankan Tamils in 1956 and 1965 in Selected Occupational Categories 61 4.1 People of Sri Lankan Origin in Australia from 1901 to 1947 74 4.2 Statewide Distribution of Sri Lankans in Australia in the Early 20th Century 75 4.3 Long Term and Permanent Settler Arrival from Sri Lanka from 1955 to 1965 76 4.4 Long Term and Permanent Settler Arrival from Sri Lanka from 1967-1978 77 4.5 Proportion of Sri Lankan immigrants in Melbourne of Part European origin and Sri Lankan Origin 80 4.6 Estimated Ethnic Composition Among Sri Lankan Immigrants Compared with the Ethnic Composition of Sri Lankan Society (%) 81 4.7 Proportion of Followers of Different Religions in Sri Lanka and Among Sri Lankans in Australia (%) 82 4.8 Language Usage of Sri Lankans in Australia (%) 83 4.9 Sri Lankans in Victoria as a Percentage of the Total Sri Lankan Population in Australia 84 4.10 Statewide Distribution of Sri Lankans in Comparison to that of Total Overseas Born Population and Total Population {%) 85 4.11 Comparison of Sri Lankans, Total Overseas Born Population and Total Population in Relation to Unemployment, Household Income and Tertiary Education 88 5.1 Members of ‘Australian' Clubs Among the Interviewees 121 6.1 Reasons for Immigration of Interviewees 151 X LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 2.1 Ethnicity as a Historical Process 33 4.1 Categorisation of Sri Lankan Immigrants on the Basis of Their Time of Arrival 78 5.1 Different Expressions of Ethnicity According to McKay and Lewi ns 98 5.2 Different Expressions of Ethnicity Incorporating Ethnic Networks 99 5.3 Sociological Types Among Sri Lankans in Melbourne 103 5.4 Expanding and Non-Expanding Networks 114 5.5 Membership of Sri Lankan Associations Among Sri Lankans in Melbourne in Terms of Sub-Ethnic Background and Sociological Types 118 5.6 The Relationship Between Sociological Categories, Identities and Ethnic Group Formation Among Sri Lankans in Melbourne 123 5.7 Changes in Home Country Ethnicity 136 5.8 Sri Lankan Identity and Sri Lankan Ethnic Group in Australia 137 6.1 Ideological and Structural Variables in Host and Home Societies 143 6.2 Factors Influencing Burgher Identity in Australia 145 6.3 Factors Influencing the Continuity of Sinhalese and Tamil Ethnicities 149 6.4 Relationship Between Urban Middle Class Socio-Cultural Sub-Systems and Sinhalese, Tamil and Burgher Communities in Sri Lanka 156 6.5 The Urban Middle Class Socio-Cultural Sub-System in the Australian Context 158 6.6 Factors Influencing Sri Lankan Ethnic Identity Formation 159 6.7 Different Ways the Ethnic Expressions Among Sri Lankans in Melbourne are Related to Sri Lankan Society 167 6.8 Ethnicity Among Sri Lankans in Melbourne as a Historical Process 168 xi LIST OF FIGURES (Cont.) Figure Page 7.1 Different Instances of Host Society/Immigrant Relationships According to Schermerhorn 175 7.2 The Way Ethnic Assimilationists and Ethnic Integrationists are Related to Australian Society 177 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Ethnicity among Sri Lankans in Melbourne is a complex phenomenon. There are two patterns of ethnic identification which regulate their ethnic behaviour and expression of ethnicity. First, some Sri Lankan immigrants in Melbourne still use their home country ethnic identifications in the Australian context. So home country ethnicities, that is, 'Sinhalese', 'Tamil' and 'Burgher' identities are still important among some Sri Lankans in Melbourne.
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