Sri Lankans
Comment: Some of the text was copied from History of Sri Lanka. — Diannaa (talk) 14:29, 25 September 2022 (UTC)
Sri Lankans (Sinhala: ශ්රී ලාංකිකයන්, romanized: śrī lāṁkikayan), (Tamil: இலங்கையர்கள், romanized: Ilaṅkaiyarkaḷ) also and formerly known as Ceylonese, are people who are citizens or people who have descent from Sri Lanka. Sri Lankans can refer to a number of ethnic groups such as the Sinhalese people, Sri Lankan Tamils, Moors, Indians in Sri Lanka, Burghers, Sri Lankan Malays, Sri Lankan Chinese, Sri Lankan Kaffirs and the indigenous Veddahs.[35] The main languages of the Sri Lankans are Sinhalese, Tamil and English with other languages spoken by smaller groups such as Sri Lankan Malay, Sri Lankan Portuguese Creole, the Veddah language and the languages of the Sri Lankan diaspora.
Names
The word Sri Lankan is the demonym for the country of Sri Lanka. The name Sri Lanka comes from the ancient name of the island which was 'Lanka' and it was then joined with 'Sri' meaning "respendent".[36] The meaning of the name Sri Lanka would mean any island. Lak-vaesiyaa in Sinhalese means an inhabitant of the island of Lanka.
The name of Sri Lanka came into different names and with that, it also gave the people of Sri Lanka different names too (with the demonym).
The British called the island Ceylon and Ceylonese for the people.
In Tamil, the island is called Illankai or Eelam. For the people, it would be Eelamese.
In Arabic, the island is called Serendip. It could also be Serendipian for the people.
The Greeks and the Romans called the island Taprobane. There isn't much information in what they (the Greeks and Romans) called the people of the island.
History
The main ethnicities on the island are the Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamils, Sri Lankan Moors, Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Burghers, Sri Lankan Malays and the indigenous Veddahs with other smaller groups such as the Chetties, Bharatha people etc.
Prehistory
Evidence of human colonization in Sri Lanka appears at the site of Balangoda. Balangoda Man arrived on the island about 125,000 years ago and has been identified as Mesolithic hunter-gatherers who lived in caves. Several of these caves, including the well-known Batadombalena and the Fa Hien Cave, have yielded many artifacts from these people, who are currently the first known inhabitants of the island.
Balangoda Man probably created Horton Plains, in the central hills, by burning the trees in order to catch game. However, the discovery of oats and barley on the plains at about 15,000 BCE suggests that agriculture had already developed at this early date.[37]
Several minute granite tools (about 4 centimetres in length), earthenware, remnants of charred timber, and clay burial pots date to the Mesolithic. Human remains dating to 6000 BCE have been discovered during recent excavations around a cave at Warana Raja Maha Vihara and in the Kalatuwawa area.
Cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka and has been found in Ancient Egypt as early as 1500 BCE, suggesting early trade between Egypt and the island's inhabitants. It is possible that Biblical Tarshish was located on the island. James Emerson Tennent identified Tarshish with Galle.[38]
The protohistoric Early Iron Age appears to have established itself in South India by at least as early as 1200 BCE, if not earlier (Possehl 1990; Deraniyagala 1992:734). The earliest manifestation of this in Sri Lanka is radiocarbon-dated to c. 1000–800 BCE at Anuradhapura and Aligala shelter in Sigiriya (Deraniyagala 1992:709-29; Karunaratne and Adikari 1994:58; Mogren 1994:39; with the Anuradhapura dating corroborated by Coningham 1999). It is very likely that further investigations will push back the Sri Lankan lower boundary to match that of South India.[39]
During the protohistoric period (1000-500 BCE) Sri Lanka was culturally united with southern India.,[40] and shared the same megalithic burials, pottery, iron technology, farming techniques and megalithic graffiti.[41][42] This cultural complex spread from southern India along with Dravidian clans such as the Velir, prior to the migration of Prakrit speakers.[43][44][41]
Archaeological evidence for the beginnings of the Iron Age in Sri Lanka is found at Anuradhapura, where a large city–settlement was founded before 900 BCE. The settlement was about 15 hectares in 900 BCE, but by 700 BCE it had expanded to 50 hectares.[45] A similar site from the same period has also been discovered near Aligala in Sigiriya.[46]
The hunter-gatherer people known as the Wanniyala-Aetto or Veddas, who still live in the central, Uva and north-eastern parts of the island, are probably direct descendants of the first inhabitants, Balangoda Man. They may have migrated to the island from the mainland around the time humans spread from Africa to the Indian subcontinent.
Later Indo Aryan migrants developed a unique hydraulic civilization named Sinhala. Their Achievements include the construction of the largest reservoirs and dams of the ancient world as well as enormous pyramid-like stupa (dāgaba in Sinhala) architecture. This phase of Sri Lankan culture may have seen the introduction of early Buddhism.[47]
Early history recorded in Buddhist scriptures refers to three visits by the Buddha to the island to see the Naga Kings, snakes that can take the form of a human at will.[48]
The earliest surviving chronicles from the island, the Dipavamsa and the Mahavamsa, say that Yakkhas, Nagas, Rakkhas and Devas inhabited the island prior to the migration of Indo Aryans.
Arrival of the Indo-Aryans and the Pre-Anuradhapura period (543-377 BCE)
The Pali chronicles, the Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa, Thupavamsa and the Chulavamsa, as well as a large collection of stone inscriptions,[49] the Indian Epigraphical records, the Burmese versions of the chronicles etc., provide information on the history of Sri Lanka from about the 6th century BCE.[50]
The Mahavamsa, written around 400 CE by the monk Mahanama, using the Deepavamsa, the Attakatha and other written sources available to him, correlates well with Indian histories of the period. Indeed, Emperor Ashoka's reign is recorded in the Mahavamsa. The Mahavamsa account of the period prior to Asoka's coronation, 218 years after the Buddha's death, seems to be part legend. Proper historical records begin with the arrival of Vijaya and his 700 followers from Vanga. A detailed description of the dynastic accounts from Vijaya's time is provided in the Mahavamsa.[51] H. W. Codrington puts it, 'It is possible and even probable that Vijaya (`The Conqueror') himself is a composite character combining in his person...two conquests' of ancient Sri Lanka. Vijaya is an Indian prince, the eldest son of King Sinhabahu ("Man with Lion arms") and his sister Queen Sinhasivali. Both these Sinhalese leaders were born of a mythical union between a lion and a human princess. The Mahavamsa states that Vijaya landed on the same day as the death of the Buddha (See Geiger's preface to Mahavamsa). The story of Vijaya and Kuveni (the local reigning queen) is reminiscent of Greek legend and may have a common source in ancient Proto-Indo-European folk tales.
Languages
The official languages of Sri Lanka are Sinhalese and Tamil with English as the link language. The native languages spoken by the Sri Lankan are mainly Sinhala by the Sinhalese and Tamil by the Sri Lankan Tamils, Indian Tamils, Chettiars and the Moors as well as some Veddahs.
The languages of both Sinhala and Tamil have a long history of establishment and influences through the times of trade and colonialism.
The Sinhalese language is an Indo- Aryan language that was itself derived from Pali in the early years and then gained Tamil influences from invasions followed by influences by the Portuguese, Dutch and British during the colonial period. The Sinhalese language currently have loanwords from Tamil, Malay, Portuguese, Dutch and English as well as Arabic which is however mainly used from the Sri Lankan Moors who speak a Dialect of Tamil.
The Sri Lankan Tamil language is Dravidian which has similarities with languages sch as Telugu and Malayalam etc. The language istelf is a separate dialect from the Tamil language which is spoken in Tamil Nadu, India and as well as places such as Malaysia. The Sri Lankan Tamil language was influenced by trade and colonialism.
Culture
Religion
Sri Lankans are predominantly Theravada Buddhist with the minority being Christian, Muslims, Christians and Animists.
Diaspora
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/sri-lanka-population/#:~:text=Sri%20Lanka%202020%20population%20is,of%20the%20total%20world%20population.
- ↑ https://www.pilotguides.com/study-guides/sri-lankan-diaspora/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.sundaytimes.lk/140105/business-times/sri-lankan-diaspora-an-extended-family-78416.html
- ↑ https://www.mofaic.gov.ae/en/missions/colombo/uae-relationships/economic-cooperation#:~:text=The%20Sri%20Lankan%20community%20in,support%20the%20Sri%20Lankan%20economy.
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20100516033156/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/186%20The%20Sri%20Lankan%20Tamil%20Diaspora%20after%20the%20LTTE.ashx
- ↑ https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/kuwait-population#:~:text=Sri%20Lankans%2C%20130%2C000,Nepalians%2C%2062%2C000
- ↑ http://priyadsouza.com/population-of-qatar-by-nationality-in-2017/
- ↑ https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/log?openagent&34120do005_201819.xls&3412.0&Data%20Cubes&B95CDCBDF3B53509CA25855700002DC2&0&2018-19&28.04.2020&Latest
- ↑ "Archived Copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-05. Retrieved 2023-09-04.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
- ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5203320.stm
- ↑ https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/14196/TH
- ↑ "Archived Copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-10. Retrieved 2023-09-04.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
- ↑ https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/fact-sheet/asian-americans-sri-lankans-in-the-u-s/
- ↑ https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4510549?sommaire=4510556
- ↑ https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/srilanka/data.html
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/estimates17.asp
- ↑ https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Bevoelkerung/Migration-Integration/Publikationen/Downloads-Migration/auslaend-bevoelkerung-2010200197004.pdf?__blob=publicationFile
- ↑ http://www.adaderana.lk/news/81652/south-korea-doubles-employment-quota-for-sri-lankan-migrant-workers
- ↑ http://murugan.org/research/sivasupramaniam.htm
- ↑ https://www.lpj.org/posts/discovering-the-sri-lankan-community-of-jordan-5e470330f305b.html
- ↑ https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/asia/sri-lanka/#:~:text=New%20Zealand%20and%20Sri%20Lanka,in%20Sri%20Lanka%20in%202021.
- ↑ https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/05183/
- ↑ https://mfa.gov.lk/sri-lankan-workers-in-maldives-could-benefit-from-the-countrys-border-reopening-maldivian-high-commissioner-informs-prime-minister-rajapaksa/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Foreign%20Ministry,Lankan%20migrant%20workers%20in%20Maldives.
- ↑ http://www.joshuaproject.net/peopctry.php?rop3=109305&rog3=LY
- ↑ http://www.dst.dk/pukora/epub/upload/15198/sy2010.pdf
- ↑ https://mfa.gov.lk/sri-lanka-embassy-in-bahrain-conducts-an-interactive-meeting-with-foreign-recruitment-agencies/#:~:text=Bahrain%20is%20home%20to%20approximately,more%20than%2020%2D30%20years.
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20110722155127/http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/news_middleeast_africa/2011-04-18/955007816173.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20110406204606/http://www.ssd.scb.se/databaser/makro/SaveShow.asp
- ↑ https://srilankaembassyrome.org/accreditations/cyprus/#:~:text=There%20are%20approximately%205700%20Sri,construction%2C%20agriculture%20and%20manufacturing%20sectors.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 https://www.sundayobserver.lk/2020/02/09/features/seychelles-world-within-world
- ↑ https://mfa.gov.lk/high-commissioner-of-sri-lanka-to-bangladesh-presents-credentials/#:~:text=The%20Sri%20Lankan%20community%20in,managers%20in%20the%20garment%20industry.
- ↑ https://www.catholicireland.net/sri-lankans-ireland-grieve-loss-life-loss-freedom-religion/
- ↑ https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/estimates19.asp
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-languages-are-spoken-in-sri-lanka.html
- ↑ "People".
- ↑ https://theculturetrip.com/asia/sri-lanka/articles/how-did-sri-lanka-get-its-name/#:~:text=The%20current%20name%20of%20Sri,Sri%20Lanka%20means%20Resplendent%20Island.
- ↑ "WWW Virtual Library: Prehistoric basis for the rise of civilisation in Sri Lanka and southern India". Lankalibrary.com. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "WWW Virtual Library: Galle : "Tarshish" of the Old Testament". Lankalibrary.com. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Early Man and the Rise of Civilisation in Sri Lanka: the Archaeological Evidence". Lankalibrary.com. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Reading the past in a more inclusive way - Interview with Dr. Sudharshan Seneviratne". Frontline (2006). 26 January 2006.
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 Seneviratne, Sudharshan (1984). Social base of early Buddhism in south east India and Sri Lanka. Search this book on
- ↑ Karunaratne, Priyantha (2010). Secondary state formation during the early iron age on the island of Sri Lanka : the evolution of a periphery. Search this book on
- ↑ Robin Conningham - Anuradhapura - The British-Sri Lankan Excavations at Anuradhapura Salgaha Watta Volumes 1 and 2 (1999/2006)
- ↑ Sudharshan Seneviratne (1989) - Pre-State Chieftains And Servants of the State: A Case Study of Parumaka -http://dlib.pdn.ac.lk/handle/123456789/2078
- ↑ Deraniyagala, S.U. (2003) THE URBAN PHENOMENON IN SOUTH ASIA: A SRI LANKAN PERSPECTIVE. Urban Landscape Dynamics – symposium. Uppsala universitet
- ↑ "Features | Online edition of Daily News – Lakehouse Newspapers". Dailynews.lk. 13 November 2008. Archived from the original on 21 March 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2012. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ de Silva, Chandra Richard (2011). "A hydraulic civilization". The Sri Lanka Reader: History, Culture, Politics. Holt, John, 1948-. Durham [N.C.]: Duke University Press. ISBN 9780822394051. OCLC 727325955. Search this book on
- ↑ Ranwella, K (5–18 June 2000). "The so-called Tamil kingdom of jaffna". Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2009. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Paranavithana Epigraphics Zeylanica
- ↑ Geiger, W. (1930). "The Trustworthiness of the Mahavamsa". The Indian Historical Quarterly. 6 (2): 208.
- ↑ "Sri Lankan Struggle Chapter 2 Origin of Racial Conflict T. Sabaratnam".
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