People have lived on the island of what is now Sri Lanka for thousands of years. The Vedda practised agriculture with irrigation, produced pottery, and worked with iron. In the 5th century BC Vijaya, a Hindu prince from India, emigrated to Sri Lanka with his people and formed a small kingdom. The Vedda were subjugated by Prince Vijaya and were largely assimilated into the new Hindu society. The present-day Sinhalese are the descendants of these people.

The two largest ethnic groups are the Sinhalese, who account for 74 per cent of the population, and the Tamil. The Tamil are divided into two groups: the Ceylon Tamil (12 per cent), whose ancestors arrived from India around the same time as the Sinhalese; and the Indian Tamil (6 per cent), who were brought in from India during the British colonial era to work on tea plantations. The Tamil are concentrated in the north, east, and south central areas. There is a large population of Tamil living in Tamil Nadu in southern India. The Indian government are concerned that Tamil rebellion against the government in Sri Lanka, might encourage Tamil unrest in India. Moors account for 7 per cent of the population; Malays, Burghers, and Vedda make up the other 1 per cent. The Burghers are descendants of Dutch colonists. The capital is Sri Jaywardanapura (Kotte). Colombo is the commercial centre and the largest city.

Both Sinhala, or Sinhalese, and Tamil are official languages in Sri Lanka. Tamil did not have official status from 1956 to 1987’one of the reasons for the outbreak of violence in the 1970s. Sinhalese is an Indo-Iranian language with roots in Sanskrit and Pali. Tamil belongs to the Dravidian group of languages. Although the use of English is declining, about 10 per cent of the population speaks it.

Since the introduction of Buddhism by the Indian Prince Mahinda in the 3rd century BC, Sri Lanka has been a stronghold of Theravada Buddhism. Nearly 70 per cent of the people are Buddhist, primarily the Sinhalese. Theravada Buddhists adhere to the original Pali texts of Buddhism and believe in the ideal of Nirvana for a select few. Although freedom of worship is guaranteed by the constitution, the government has given special status to Buddhism. Many Buddhists also honour various Hindu deities, and the Hindu caste system, while not as strong as in India, retains some influence. About 15 per cent of the people, mostly Tamil, are Hindu. Their worship centres on the god Shiva; however, many gods exist in the hierarchy, each having a specific purpose. For instance, women pray to Paththini for health and fertility; businessmen seek the blessings of Kataragama, or Skanda; and students can ask for help with learning from Ganesh or Saraswathi. The Moors and Malays are mostly Muslim, and 8 per cent of the population is Christian.

If a nuclear family has its own household, it will often live very close to relatives. In the family, men are the dominant figures, although women manage the affairs of the household and have influence in all family matters. Women have economic and political opportunities outside the home, but are expected to be able to maintain all household responsibilities as well. Parents expect to provide their children with all basic needs even into adulthood. The elderly are greatly respected, and younger family members often yield to their advice and counsel. Children expect to care for their elderly parents, if necessary.

Marriage is an extremely important event in Sri Lankan life, and the ceremonies are often elaborate and costly. Although individual choice of marriage partner occurs among more westernized circles, the traditional practice of arranged marriages still prevails in Sri Lanka. Religious beliefs traditionally placed a taboo on marriage outside one’s caste, but this tradition is fading as Sri Lanka modernizes.

The timing of various wedding events, such as what time the wedding parties arrive, what time the ceremony begins and ends, when the papers are signed, when the newly married couple leaves the ceremony, and when they arrive at their new home, is governed by astrology. Each event is calculated to the minute so as to give the marriage the best possible start.

Rice is the staple in the Sri Lankan diet and is the basic food for all meals. Each ethnic group in Sri Lanka has its own repertoire of dishes, but each has also borrowed from the others over time; thus, Sri Lankan cuisine is a combination of all the different types. Several different curries are popular, from mild to very spicy. Sri Lankans typically consume little meat, but eat large amounts of pulses (peas and beans) and nuts. A main meal usually begins with rice or bread, followed by a curry or dhal (lentils) and a vegetable such as cabbage or carrots. Favourite foods include pol sambol, which is scraped and spiced coconut, and katta sambol, which is a very spicy mixture of fried onions and chillies. The Burghers are known for their cakes and sweetmeats, which are also an integral part of the country’s diet. Tea is served with most meals and as a refreshment.

The different religions of the country play a large role in determining what people eat. Those who adhere strictly to Buddhist doctrines do not eat flesh of any kind. Some Buddhists include fish or eggs in their diet. Many Hindus are vegetarians; those who do eat meat do not eat beef. Muslims do not eat pork.

Because the Buddhist calendar is based on the moon’s phases, every Poya Dawasa, or full-moon day, is a holiday. In addition, each major religion has at least one holiday that is also a national holiday. For example, the country marks Idul Fitr, the Islamic feast at the end of the month-long fast of Ramazan (Ramadan) and Idul Adha, the Islamic Feast of the Sacrifice. Easter (including Good Friday) and Christmas (25 December) are celebrated by the Christians. Deepawali, the Festival of Lights, is a Hindu celebration. Many other religious holidays honour the Buddha or Hindu deities. The Tamil Thai-Pongal Day marks the return of the sun after a month of “evil days”; the sun brings a new period of goodwill. The Sinhalese and Tamil New Year is usually celebrated in April with great fanfare and rejoicing. During New Year festivities, Sri Lankans participate in a number of activities, from indoor games just for women to outdoor sports such as elephant racing or wrestling. Political holidays include National Day (4 February), May Day (1 May), and National Heroes’ Day (22 May).