Sinhalese

Sinhalese, or Sinhala, is an ethnolinguistic designation that refers to the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka and to the Sinhala language they speak. The Sinhalese are the island’s largest ethnic group, comprising about three-quarters of Sri Lanka’s population. They are predominantly Buddhist and historically inhabit the central, southern, and western regions of Sri Lanka.

The Sinhala language is an Indo-Aryan language in the Indo-European family. It has its own writing system, the Sinhala script, an abugida derived from the ancient Brahmi script. Sinhala shows regional dialects and has absorbed loanwords from Pali, Sanskrit, Tamil, and English. It is one of Sri Lanka’s official languages, used in education, media, government, and daily communication.

Historically, Sinhalese kingdoms such as Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa established long-standing state institutions on the island. The introduction and spread of Theravada Buddhism in the first centuries BCE and CE profoundly shaped Sinhalese culture, literature, art, and architecture. Sinhala Buddhist monuments, temples, and a rich literary tradition in Pali and Sinhala remain central to cultural identity.

Beyond Sri Lanka, Sinhalese communities exist in the global diaspora, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the Gulf states, where language and cultural practices are maintained alongside integration with local societies. The Sinhalese share a complex heritage with other Sri Lankan communities, contributing to the island’s diverse social and cultural landscape.