Question

Explain the ethnic composition of Sri Lanka.

Answer 1

Answer:

Sri Lanka has a multi-culture population. Sri Lanka has two major social groups, Sinhalese and Sri Lankan Tamils. People who speak Sinhala are known as the Sinhalese. People who speak Tamil are the Sri Lankan Tamils. The Sinhalese comprise 74 per cent of the total population in Sri Lanka while Tamils make up 18 per cent of the total population in Sri Lanka.

Composition of SriLanka

• The bulk of the population of the Sinhalese group of around 74 per cent
• Tamils around 18 per cent, who are mainly concentrated in the north and east of the island, making the largest ethnic minority.
• Muslims are representative of other communities.
• Two sub-groups exist among Tamils. Among Tamils, two sub-groups exist.
• The Tamil natives of the country are called Sri Lankan Tamils of around 13 per cent.
• The Indian Origin Tamils are the Tamils who were brought from India by British colonists to serve on estate plantations as indentured workers of around 5 per cent.
• Buddhists are predominantly Sinhala-speaking people, while the majority of Tamils are Hindus or Muslims.
• Around 7% of Christians are both Tamil & Sinhalese.