Indians in Sri Lanka

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Indians in Sri Lanka
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Tamil people · Sri Lankan Tamils

Indians in Sri Lanka refer to

Indians or people of Indian ancestry living in Sri Lanka, such as the Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka
.

History

Indian traders have been visiting and settling down in Sri Lanka for more than 2,500 years, Colombo Chetties are descendants of traders who had come to Sri Lanka during the

epigraphic evidence of traders and others self identifying as Damelas or Damedas (Sinhala and Sinhala prakrit for Tamils) in Anuradhapura and other areas of Sri Lanka as early as 2nd century BCE. The idea of looking upon the Demedas as aliens was not prevalent in the Early Historical Period.[1]

Ethnic groups

Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka

Main article: Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka

Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka are

Malayalee origins as well as diverse South Indian caste origins. They are instrumental in the plantation sector economy of Sri Lanka. In general socio economically their standard of living is below that of the national average. In 1964 a large percentage were expatriated back to India but left a considerable number as stateless people. By the 1990s most of these have been given Sri Lankan citizenship. Most are Hindus with a minority of Christians and Muslims
amongst them. Politically they are supportive of trade union derived political parties that have supported most of the ruling coalition since the 1980s.

Indian Moors

Main article: Indian Moors

Before the 1911 Ceylon Census Moors in Sri Lanka were counted as one. From the census onwards they were divided into Indian Moors and Sri Lankan Moors. Indian Moors were brought to Sri Lanka for the same reasons as the Indian Tamils, as labourers to the plantations. In 1971 Indian Moors numbered 29,416 declining from 55,400 in 1963. Their decline was partly due to returning to India and some declaring themselves and being enumerated as Sri Lankan Moors. Indian Moors were mostly found in the Colombo and Kandy Districts.[2]

Sri Lankan Chetty

Main article:
Sri Lankan Chetty

Sri Lankan Chetty, also known as Colombo Chetties, Colombo Chittis or Colombo Hetties, are a formerly endogamous

Malayalee or Telugu speakers. Although Indian traders have been visiting and settling down in Sri Lanka for more than 2,500 years, Colombo Chetties are descendants of traders who had come to Sri Lanka during the Portuguese
colonial era since 1505 CE.

Bharatha People

Main article:
Bharatha People

Bharathas also Bharatakula are a

Roman Catholics although a significant minority practice Hinduism.[3]

Paravar are to be found all over Sri Lanka. Amongst Sri Lankan Tamils Paravar are still a fishing and trading caste although commonly confused with the Karaiyar. The Bharatas or Bharatakula identity is maintained by a relatively prosperous merchant group from India that settled amongst the Sinhalese in the Negombo area.[4]

Sri Lankan Gypsy people

Main article:
Sri Lankan Gypsy people

Sri Lankan Gypsy people are an ethnic group who trace their origins in India. They are a nomadic people who mostly speak in

Batticaloa district.[5][6]

Tivaru

Main article: Tivaru

Tivaru or Tiyya are said to be the first settlers of the

Mahls came to these islands, the Tivaru who had already settled in these islands migrated to Sri Lanka, except for those who remained in Giraavaru. There are many Tamil Tivaru living on the Northern Coast lines especially on the Islands near to Jaffna Peninsula. Most of the settled down from Tamil Nadu between 13th Century and 18th Century AD. Vast majority of them belong to Maravars from Ramnad. Today almost every one identify themselves as Vellalars or Karaiyars.[7]

Notable people

Main article: List of Indians in Sri Lanka

See also

References

  1. ^ Indrapala, K The Evolution of an ethnic identity: The Tamils of Sri Lanka, p.157
  2. ^ The Population of Sri Lanka (PDF). Moors: C.I.C.R.E.D. Series. 1974. pp. 44–46.
  3. ^ One Nation:diversity and multiculturalism-Part I Archived 2012-10-12 at the Wayback Machine The Island - July 20, 2009
  4. ^ imitri Mascarenhas and the Negombo connection The Nation - August 19, 2007
  5. ^ "Uplifting the ahikuntaka gypsy community". Dilmah Conservation. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  6. ^ "By the light of the gypsy fire". 13 February 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  7. ^ "The Social Structure of Maliku (Minicoy)". Maldivesroyalfamily.com. Archived from the original on 2013-09-20. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
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