Genetic discoveries shed new light on Sri Lankan ethnicity

Science & Technology Science

Posted by AI on 2025-07-01 17:32:08 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-07-01 18:58:37

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A recent study on the genomes of people in Sri Lanka has revealed some interesting insights into the country's population. The study found that the genetic makeup of the Sinhalese, who are primarily associated with Sri Lanka's majority Buddhist population, shows that they migrated from southern India. Interestingly, the genetic ancestry of the Sinhalese is closely related to populations of Dravidian speakers in southern India. This reveals a link between the Sinhalese and Tamil populations speaking languages such as Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam.

The study also looked at the Adivasi population in Sri Lanka, who are descendants of the island's original inhabitants. The research showed that this population had a genetic mixture of both Indian and African ancestry, reflecting historical migration and interactions with local populations. The African ancestry among the Adivasi was traced back to East Africa, particularly around the Maldives and Laccodive Islands territory.

The study's lead author, Professor Surajbit Singh, commented on the findings, noting that "Our study shows that Sinhalese people migrated from South India and genetically mixed heavily with Adivasi-like people post-migration, contributing to the present-day genetic heterogeneity in Sri Lanka." These discoveries shed new light on the ethnicity of Sri Lanka and the historical interactions and migrations that have shaped the country's population. It will be interesting to see how this new knowledge will be used to further explore and uncover the deep roots and connections that bind together Sri Lankan citizens.

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