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The Tamil Population of Sri Lanka, Ethnic Groups

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  • The Tamil Population of Sri Lanka, Ethnic Groups

The Tamil Population of Sri Lanka, Ethnic Groups, Religions, and Administrative Divisions

The Sri Lankan Tamils living in the Jaffna region are considered the indigenous people of that area. Today, when Sinhalese refer to “Tamils,” they include both categories of Tamils living in Sri Lanka. The political party known as the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) has operated on behalf of the Tamils of the Jaffna region. However, this party has demanded liberation and political rights for both categories of Tamils.

The demand of the Tamil United Liberation Front is that, just as Tamils historically lived in these regions and governed themselves as a separate sovereign state during certain periods, these areas should once again be separated and governed by Tamils themselves.

Apart from Tamils, the Sinhalese people—who took control of the state established under British rule—are also divided into two groups. They are known as the Low-Country Sinhalese and the Kandyan Sinhalese.

The Low-Country Sinhalese are those who live mainly in the western and southern urban provinces, including Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, and Hambantota.

The Kandyan Sinhalese are those who live, similar to Indian Tamils, in the hill-country regions such as Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Ratnapura, Kegalle, and Kurunegala. Many of them are also plantation workers. During ethnic conflicts that occurred in the past, Tamil people living in plantation areas suffered severe destruction and hardship, much of it at the hands of these groups.

Apart from these two major ethnic communities, Moors, Malays, and Burghers also live in Sri Lanka as very small minority communities. These ethnic classifications were largely shaped during the period of British colonial rule.

Religions in Sri Lanka

In terms of religion, the majority of Sri Lanka’s population (67.3 percent) follows Buddhism. Most of these people are Sinhalese.

Hindus make up 17.6 percent of the population. They are primarily followers of Hinduism, especially the Saiva tradition (Shaivism).

Historical sources state that Saivism had flourished in Sri Lanka even before the arrival of Vijaya, who is traditionally considered the ancestor of the Sinhalese and is said to have arrived in the 5th century BCE.

Evidence of this ancient Saiva tradition can be found in the five famous Shiva temples:

  • Thiruketheeswaram
  • Munneswaram
  • Thondeswaram
  • Thirukoneswaram
  • Naguleswaram

Islam is the next largest religion after Hinduism in Sri Lanka. 7.1 percent of the population follows Islam. The Muslims of Sri Lanka are described here as Tamil-speaking people whose mother tongue is Tamil. They live throughout the island, with larger concentrations in areas such as the Eastern Province, Colombo, Puttalam, and Mannar.

Regarding Christianity, 7.1 percent of Christians in Sri Lanka are Roman Catholics, while 0.8 percent belong to other Christian denominations. Followers of other religions make up a very small minority of 0.1 percent.

Distribution of Sri Lankan Tamils

Generally, Sri Lankan Tamils live in significant numbers in Mannar, Vavuniya, and Batticaloa, where they form a substantial portion of the population. In Jaffna, they constitute approximately 94.9 percent of the population, while in Trincomalee they constitute around 35 percent, and in Ampara around 22 percent.

Administrative Divisions of Sri Lanka

Politically, Sri Lanka is divided into 24 administrative districts, which are grouped into 9 provinces.

The provinces and their districts are as follows:

1) Western Province

(Three districts)

  1. Colombo
  2. Kalutara
  3. Gampaha

2) Central Province

(Three districts)

  1. Kandy
  2. Matale
  3. Nuwara Eliya

3) Southern Province

(Three districts)

  1. Galle
  2. Matara
  3. Hambantota

4) Northern Province

(Four districts)

  1. Jaffna
  2. Mannar
  3. Vavuniya
  4. Mullaitivu

5) Eastern Province

(Three districts)

  1. Batticaloa
  2. Ampara
  3. Trincomalee

6) North Western Province

(Two districts)

  1. Kurunegala
  2. Puttalam

7) North Central Province

(Two districts)

  1. Anuradhapura
  2. Polonnaruwa

8) Uva Province

(Two districts)

  1. Badulla
  2. Moneragala

9) Sabaragamuwa Province

(Two districts)

  1. Ratnapura
  2. Kegalle

Among these regions, Tamils are present in large numbers mainly in the Northern Province, Eastern Province, and parts of the Central Province, while Sinhalese are the majority in most other areas.

At present, because political power is held by the Sinhalese, the government has been carrying out policies—directly and indirectly—with the intention of weakening Tamils through linguistic and ethnic control. One such policy has been the large-scale settlement of Sinhalese people in areas where Tamils have traditionally formed the majority, with government support.

— To be continued —

Tamil Eelam

Pavalareru Perunchithiranar

Compilation: Tamilarasan Abdul Kadar

Translation by Hari

 
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