Who are the Sinhalese people?

Question

Who are the Sinhalese people?

Answer 1

Sri Lankan people.

Answer 2

The Sinhalese are the dominant ethnic group in Sri Lanka (formerly, Ceylon), an island off the southeastern coast of India. Composing about 75% of the population, they live mainly in the central and southwestern portions of the island. The Sinhalese have lived in Sri Lanka for more than 2,000 years. They were ruled by various European powers for over 400 years until Sri Lanka was granted independence from Great Britain in 1948. Since that time, they have been engaged in nearly constant conflict with the Tamil minority, who are calling for an independent state on the north side of the island.

The Sinhalese are divided into two major groups. The first group is the mountain-dwelling Kandyan Sinhalese, who are known as a more traditional, conservative people. The second is the Low Country Sinhalese, who live in the coastal lowlands and are more cosmopolitan and progressive. The Sinhalese speak an Indo-European language called Sinhala.

The Sinhalese follow the Buddhist religion, but because of Sri Lanka's proximity to India, the people are also heavily influenced by the Hindu caste (social class) system. Castes are ranked social classes that are based upon occupation. For example, farmers have their own caste, fishermen have another caste, and priests have yet another caste. At birth, individuals are automatically included in their parents' caste and are required to marry within that caste. Members of a highly ranked caste generally attempt to avoid contact with members of lower castes, for fear of being spiritually polluted by them.

The largest caste among the Sinhalese is the farming caste, whose members number about one-half of the total Sinhalese population. The great majority of the farmers grow rice. Coconut, manioc, tomatoes, potatoes, and onions are also cultivated. In addition, marijuana is sometimes grown as a cash crop. Virtually no modern tools are used in agriculture; consequently, almost all farm work is done by hand or with hand tools. Most farming families also keep animals such as cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, chickens, and pigs.

Almost all Sinhalese marriages are monogamous, composed of one man and one woman. However, a wealthy man may occasionally have more than one wife. Traditionally, there was no ceremony associated with marriage; a man and a woman simply started living together with their parents' consent. Today, however, that type of marriage is rare, and most couples hold a ceremony and sign a marriage license.

Most of the Sinhalese belong to the Theravada branch of the Buddhist religion. Although the Sinhalese adhere to basic Buddhist teachings, they follow many Hindu beliefs as well. For example, Buddhism is unconcerned with the Hindu pantheon of millions of gods, but the Sinhalese worship Hindu deities who they believe control daily life. Over time, the people may come to see a formerly popular god as inadequate, and they may change their allegiance to another god. In addition to gods, the Sinhalese believe in demons, whom they must appease through rituals conducted by exorcists.

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Answer 3

The Sinhalese people inhabit Sri Lanka, which was Ceylon before 1972.