Lankan

Lankan is an English demonym and adjective associated with Lanka, the traditional name for the island nation located south of India. In contemporary usage, the standard demonym is Sri Lankan; Lankan appears as a shorter or historical form, used in less formal writing and in some sports contexts. The name Lanka derives from ancient Sanskrit and Pali texts and is the root of Sri Lanka, meaning “resplendent island.”

Usage: An inhabitant of Sri Lanka can be described as a Sri Lankan or, less commonly, a Lankan. The term is more likely to be found in older literature, in journalistic shorthand, or in sporting contexts (for example, “the Lankan cricket team”). In formal contexts, Sri Lankan remains preferred.

People and culture: Sri Lanka is an island nation in the Indian Ocean with diverse communities, primarily Sinhalese and Tamil, speaking Sinhala and Tamil. Its cultural heritage includes Buddhism as a major influence, along with Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. The term Lankan thus serves as a link to the island’s name and to the broader Sri Lankan identity, especially in historical or literary references.