Sri Lankans in Italy
This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2013) |
Total population | |
---|---|
109,968 (2016) Sri Lankan |
There are over 100,000 Sri Lankans in Italy. Many are permanent residents or have moved there in search of work.
History
Early sources show that Sri Lankans have had a presence in the areas of present-day Italy since the
Sri Lankans started to migrate to Italy in the 1970s. Italy was attractive to the migrants due to perceived easier employment opportunities and entry, compared to other European countries.[2] The first immigration waves during the second half of the Eighties consisted mainly of Tamils, followed by Sinhalese at the beginning of the 1990s.[2]
In the late 1970s, Catholic women migrated to Italy to work in elderly homes. Many Sri Lankans have also illegally migrated to Italy.[citation needed] Admission acts also encouraged more Sri Lankans to migrate to Italy. For example, the Dini Decree in 1996 made it easier for Sri Lankan workers to bring their families to Italy. In Rome, Naples and Milan, the Sri Lankans have built up "enlarged families", where jobs are exchanged among relatives and compatriots.[2]
Demographics
Sociologist
Community
The major community organisation representing Sri Lankans in Italy is the Sri Lanka Association Italy. Smaller community and political organisation exist in areas with a sizable Sri Lankan population such as the Sri Lanka Association Florence, Coordinamento Tamil, Centro Culturale Tamil, Sri Lanka Women's Association Napoli and Associazione dei Tamil in Italia. Several other organizations are based in cities including Naples, Bologna, Lecce, Reggio Emilia etc.[2]
Notable Sri Lankan Italians
- Nadeesha Uyangoda – Journalist and Writer (L'unica persona nera nella stanza, 66thand2nd, 2021)
- Sepala Ekanayake – Sri Lankan hijacker of the Alitalia Boeing 747
- Hemantha Jayasena – Sri Lankan born Italian cricketer.
- Samantha de Mel – Sri Lankan born Italian former cricketer
See also
- Global Sri Lankan Forum
- Italy – Sri Lanka relations
- Sri Lankan Americans
- Sri Lankan Canadians
- Sri Lankan Australians
- Sri Lankan New Zealanders
- Sri Lankans in the United Kingdom
- Sri Lankans in France
- Sri Lankans in Norway
- Sri Lankans in Sweden
- Sri Lankans in Denmark
- Sri Lankans in Germany
- Sri Lankans in Belgium
- Sri Lankans in the Netherlands
- Sri Lankans in Spain
References
- ^ "Executive Summary" (PDF). www.integrazionemigranti.gov.it. 2016. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
Regularly Residing: 109,968
- ^ a b c d e f g h The Sri Lankan Diaspora in Italy (PDF). Berghof Research Center. 2004.
- ^ "Sri Lanka - Italy Relations | Embassy of Sri Lanka".