Glossary

PLO chairman Yasser Arafat. Palestinian leaders in the Fatah faction used real or fictional kunyas as noms de guerre or nicknames

Call to prayer by the muezzin in the mosque five times a day.

Praise to Allah

A robe-like dress worn by women

Mother

Maternal grandmother

Maternal grandfather

Elder brother

Paternal grandmother

Paternal grandfather

Alcohol distilled from the fermented sap of coconut and palmyra palm flowers

Or ‘Lion Cubs’ was a name given to orphans who fought with the PLO in Lebanon

‘May You Live Long’ is the customary greeting of the Sri Lankans that denotes welcome, goodbye, respect, devotion or loyalty to suit the occasion. The palms of the two hands are held close together against the chest and the head bowed.

The Takbir (Allah is greater) has traditionally been used by Muslims as a battle cry

Islamic greeting meaning ‘Peace be upon you’. Sometimes shortened to Salaam.

Father

Abhayagiri Vihāra was a major monastery site of Theravada Buddhism that was situated in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is one of the most extensive ruins in the world and one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage cities in the nation. One of the focal points of the complex is an ancient stupa, the Abhayagiri Dagaba.

Sinhalese New Year or Aluth Avurudu is the traditional New Year of the Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka. It is a major anniversary celebrated by most Sri Lankans.  For farming communities, the traditional new year festival is a festival of harvest as well.