Siriyame Sara

Does the Sinhalese (and Sri Lankan) people belong to Caucasian group?

Yes, the Sinhalese people, the major ethnic group in Sri Lanka have been classified as Caucasoids by most of the anthropologists. It is believed that the contemporary Sinhalese population of Sri Lanka has mostly descended from early Indo-Aryan speaking Buddhist migrants or settlers from North Eastern parts of India, particularly West Bengal. Even though Sinhalese are originally from Bengal or North East India, modern day Sinhalese also have some South Indian or Tamil ancestry as well as Native Sri Lankan (Aboriginal) ancestry in addition to their predominant Bengali ancestry.

The ancestors of modern Sinhalese are believed to have migrated to the island of Sri Lanka from modern day West Bengal during the 6th or 3rd century BC.

Migration Routes of the Ancestors of Sinhalese

Genetic admixture of Sinhalese by Dr. Saha Papiha

Linguistically, Sinhalese are closer to Northern Indians like Bengalis than they are to Southern Indians such as Tamils and Malayalis as Sinhalese language belongs to the Indo-Aryan language family or linguistic family.

Distribution of Indo-Aryan languages in South Asia or the Indian Subcontinent

Now, these are the most common phenotypes among modern day Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka.

Sinhalesid
Central Brachid
Indo Brachid
Indo Melanid
Veddid
Malid

1 – Sinhalesid (Gracile Indid)

This is the most dominant phenotype among modern day Sinhalese speakers of Sri Lanka. People with this phenotype can be found throughout the island.

Below are some well-known Sinhalese people with Sinhalesid phenotype.

Kumar Sangakkara, former Sri Lankan cricketer

Vijaya Kumaranatunga (RIP), a Sri Lankan actor

Athula Adikari, a Sri Lankan singer

Rajitha Senaratne, a Sri Lankan politician

Champika Ranawaka, a Sri Lankan politician

Ajith Rohana, a Deputy Inspector General of Police, Sri Lanka

Anuruddha Padeniya, a Sri Lankan physician

2 – Central Brachid

This is also a very common phenotype among contemporary Sinhalese people. This is probably the most prevalent phenotype among Upper caste people of West Bengal.

Below are some Sinhalese speakers with Central Brachid phenotype.

Harin Fernando, a Sri Lankan politician

Shihan Mihiranga, a Sri Lankan singer

Pubudu Chathuranga, a Sri Lankan actor

Sarath Amunugama, a Sri Lankan politician

Vijitha Herath, a Sri Lankan politician

Gamini Hettiarachchi (RIP), a Sri Lankan actor

3 – Indo Brachid

This is the most common phenotype among West Indian ethnic groups such as Gujaratis. However, people or individuals with this phenotype can be found all over South Asia including West Bengal.

Below are some Sinhalese speakers with Indo Brachid phenotype.

Chamal Rajapaksa, a Sri Lankan politician

Kavinga Perera, a Sri Lankan actor

Pujith Jayasundara, the 34th Inspector-General of Police, Sri Lanka

Dayan Witharana, a Sri Lankan singer and a photographer

Chathu Rajapaksha, a Sri Lankan anchor

4 – Indo Melanid

Sinhalese speakers with this phenotype are mostly found in Southern and Western Coastal areas of Sri Lanka. It’s believed that the Sinhalese people living in these areas have mostly descended from relatively recent migrants from South India. By the way, this is the most dominant phenotype among Tamil people of South India.

Genetic admixture of Sinhalese by Dr. Gautam K. Kshatriya

Sinhalese speakers with Indo Melanid phenotype

Vijith Vijithamuni Soysa, a Sri Lankan politician

Thisara Perera, a Sri Lankan cricketer

Aravinda de Silva, former Sri Lankan cricketer

Lahiru Perera, a Sri Lankan singer

Ravi Karunanayake, a Sri Lankan politician

5 – Veddid – Vedda

This is the phenotype of the Indigenous Aboriginal people of Sri Lanka. Sinhalese people with this phenotype or features are mostly found in South Western parts / regions of the island.