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| Sri Lankans | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sri Lankans |
| Regions | Sri Lanka |
| Languages | Sinhala language, Tamil language |
| Religions | Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity |
Sri Lankans are the people originating from the island nation of Sri Lanka, a crossroads in the Indian Ocean with deep historical links to South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Their identities reflect centuries of interaction with Anuradhapura Kingdom, Polonnaruwa Kingdom, Kandyan Kingdom, and colonial powers such as Portuguese Empire, Dutch East India Company, and the British Empire. Contemporary Sri Lankans participate in institutions such as the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, and regional bodies like the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
Sri Lanka's human past connects to Stone Age Sri Lanka sites like Balangoda Man and archaeological complexes such as Anuradhapura and Sigiriya. Early polities engaged in maritime trade with Roman Empire, Gupta Empire, and Tang dynasty, later influenced by missionary activities from Buddha-related traditions and interactions with Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. Medieval and early modern eras featured confrontation and diplomacy involving Chola dynasty, Jaffna Kingdom, and Kandyan Convention, followed by colonial rule under the Portuguese Ceylon, Dutch Ceylon, and British Ceylon. Twentieth-century movements led by figures like D. S. Senanayake, Don Stephen Senanayake, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, and Sirimavo Bandaranaike shaped independence and postcolonial statehood, while late twentieth-century conflicts involved the Sri Lankan Civil War, key actors such as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and responses by the Sri Lanka Armed Forces.
Population distribution reflects concentrations in provinces such as Western Province, Southern Province, and Northern Province. Urbanization centers include Colombo, Kandy, Galle, and Jaffna. Migration flows involve labor migration to Gulf Cooperation Council, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada as well as diasporic communities in Maldives and Singapore. Public health and social indicators are tracked by agencies like the Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka and institutions such as University of Colombo and University of Peradeniya.
Major ethnolinguistic groups include speakers of Sinhala language and Tamil language, historically associated with the Sinhalese and Sri Lankan Tamil communities; smaller groups include the Sri Lankan Moors, Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka, Burgher people, and Veddah people. Linguistic heritage shows classical literature such as the Pali Canon in Pali language and Tamil epics; modern literary figures include Martin Wickramasinghe, Michael Ondaatje, Arthur C. Clarke, and Mahinda Rajapaksa-era cultural initiatives. Language politics have intersected with policies like the Official Language Act (1956) and accords such as the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord.
Religious practice centers on Theravada Buddhism with sacred sites including Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, as well as Hinduism traditions at temples like Koneswaram, Islam in mosques such as Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, and Christianity represented by St. Lucia's Cathedral and Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Festivals include Vesak, Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Thai Pongal, and processions like the Esala Perahera. Cultural expressions encompass classical dance forms such as Kandyan dance, folk traditions, cuisine featuring rice and curry, tea culture tied to Ceylon tea estates like those in Nuwara Eliya, and visual arts preserved in museums such as the National Museum of Colombo.
Family structures vary across urban neighborhoods in Colombo District and rural communities in Matara District and Anuradhapura District, influenced by neighborhood institutions such as Grama Niladhari offices and welfare programs modeled after policies from administrations like Jayawardene administration. Education pathways include schools affiliated with University of Colombo, University of Jaffna, and denominational colleges established under missions like Methodist Church in Sri Lanka. Popular media outlets include broadcasters like Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and newspapers such as Daily News (Sri Lanka), while sports heroes come from cricket teams like Sri Lanka national cricket team featuring players such as Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Mahela Jayawardene.
Economic life historically relied on agriculture with staples like rice and export commodities such as Ceylon tea, rubber, and coconut, produced on estates in regions like Nuwara Eliya District. Industrial activity centers on ports including Colombo Port and Hambantota Port and sectors such as textile manufacturing, information technology parks like Sri Lanka Export Development Board initiatives, and tourism hubs near Sigiriya and Galle Fort. Labor markets include plantation workers from Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka, urban professionals in finance firms in Colombo District, and fisherfolk in coastal towns such as Trincomalee and Negombo.
Political life features parties like the United National Party, Sri Lanka Freedom Party, and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and institutions such as the Parliament of Sri Lanka and the Presidency of Sri Lanka. Constitutional developments include the Constitution of Sri Lanka (1978) and events like the 1971 JVP insurrection and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami response. Debates over identity involve reconciliation frameworks such as the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and international engagements with bodies like the United Nations Human Rights Council and neighboring states including India and China.
Category:People by nationality