Sinhalese

Sinhalese

Sinhalese are an indigenous race of Sri Lanka, who make up the majority population of the island. They speak the Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language. Legend has it that they decend from King Vijaya and his party of several hundred that set foot on the island around 500 BCE.

Wanniyala-Aetto or "Veddhas" are another indigenous population group in Sri Lanka. Epics of both Sinhalese and "Veddhas" say that both races share the same ancestral origins, though they separated some 2500 years ago. Sinhalese are also said to be mixed with North and East Indians and Javanese.

They are generally considered to be a Caucasoid race, but display some traits of their Dravidian neighbours, possibly due to assimilation of Tamils.