Sinhalese people are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group native to the island of Sri Lanka. They were historically known as Hela people. They constitute about 75% of the Sri Lankan population and number more than 16.2 million. The Sinhalese identity is based on language, cultural heritage and nationality. The Sinhalese people speak Sinhala, an insular Indo-Aryan language, and are predominantly Theravada Buddhists, although a minority of Sinhalese follow branches of Christianity and other religions. Since 1815, they were broadly divided into two respective groups: The 'Up-country Sinhalese' in the central mountainous regions, and the 'Low-country Sinhalese' in the coastal regions; although both groups speak the same language, they are distinguished as they observe different cultural customs.
Silambam is an Indian martial art originating in South India in the Indian subcontinent. This style is mentioned in Tamil Sangam literature. The World Silambam Association is the official international body of Silambam.
Siran Upendra Deraniyagala was a Sri Lankan archaeologist and historian, who served as the Director-General of Archaeology in the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka from 1992 to 2001. He also served as the President of the Sri Lanka Council of Archaeologists.
Balangoda Man refers to hominins from Sri Lanka's late Quaternary period. The term was initially coined to refer to anatomically modern Homo sapiens from sites near Balangoda that were responsible for the island's Mesolithic 'Balangoda Culture'. The earliest evidence of Balangoda Man from archaeological sequences at caves and other sites dates back to 38,000 BP, and from excavated skeletal remains to 30,000 BP, which is also the earliest reliably dated record of anatomically modern humans in South Asia. Cultural remains discovered alongside the skeletal fragments include geometric microliths dating to 28,500 BP, which together with some sites in Africa is the earliest record of such stone tools.
The prehistory of Sri Lanka covers the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and early Iron Age of the country until the Pre Anuradhapura period in 543 BC.
Paulus Edward Pieris Deraniyagala (1900–1976) was a Sri Lankan paleontologist, zoologist, and artist.
The Battle of Mulleriyawa in 1559 was part of the Sinhalese–Portuguese War. It was one of the most decisive battles in Sri Lankan history and considered as the worst defeat of Portuguese during that period. According to local chronicles the marshlands of Mulleriyawa turned red with blood after the annihilation of the Portuguese. With this victory Sitawaka emerged as a military power which able to challenge the Portuguese expansion.
Uppalawanna is a 2007 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama philosophical film directed by Sunil Ariyaratne and produced by Milinia Sumathipala for Sumathi Films. It stars Sangeetha Weeraratne and Malini Fonseka in lead roles along with Roshan Ravindra and Chandani Seneviratne. Music composed by Navaratne Gamage. It is the 1165th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema. The film has been shot in and around Thanthirimale.
Angampora is a Sinhalese martial art that combines combat techniques, self-defense, sport, exercise, and meditation. A key component of angampora is the namesake angam, which incorporates hand-to-hand fighting, and illangam, involving the use of indigenous weapons such as the ethunu kaduwa, staves, knives and swords. Another component known as maya angam, which uses spells and incantations for combat, is also said to have existed. Angampora's distinct feature lies in the use of pressure point attacks to inflict pain or permanently paralyze the opponent. Fighters usually make use of both striking and grappling techniques, and fight until the opponent is caught in a submission lock that they cannot escape. Usage of weapons is discretionary. Perimeters of fighting are defined in advance, and in some of the cases is a pit.
Cheena di, or Cheenaadi, or occasionally, Chinna ati / Chaina pudi; and in Malayalam Cheena Adi, is a Chinese-derived martial art in Sri Lanka. Another viewpoint, due to self-proclaimed Cheena di Master Gunadasa Subasinghe is that the word Cheena di comes from Chennai (A)di, a martial art originally taught by Indian Immigrants in Sri Lanka to their eventually street-fighting disciples called Chandi of diverse native ethnicities, including the Sinhalese, Muslims, as well as Sri Lanka Tamils, all living in the same poor-ish neighbourhoods.
Stanley Peiris was a Sri Lankan musician and musical composer.
Weerapullige Jayasiri [Sinhala]), popularly known as W. Jayasiri, is a Sri Lankan actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Highly versatile actor from drama to comedy, Jayasiri is a multi-talented personnel that working as a script writer and lyricist.
Walapatala (Penumbra) is a 2008 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama film directed by Vijitha Gunaratne and co-produced by Kasheyapa Gunarathna and Nelum Gunarathna. It stars Jayalath Manoratne and Jayani Senanayake in lead roles along with Saumya Liyanage and Gamini Haththotuwegama. Music composed by Tharupathi Munasinghe. It is the 1107th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.
Selamuthu Pinna is a 2004 Sri Lankan Sinhala romantic drama film directed by Roy de Silva and produced by G. R. Padmaraj. It stars two popular singers Athula Adhikari and Indika Upamali in lead roles along with Sanath Gunathilake and Cletus Mendis. Music composed by Somapala Rathnayake. It is the 1034th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.
Bogoda Appuhamilage Don Wickrama Bogoda, popularly as Wickrama Bogoda, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and theater. Primarily known for character acting in both in stage plays and movies. plays, Bogoda has performed in many theater plays and over 15 selected movies over two decades from 1960 to 1985. His role in Movie Golu Hadawatha made his acting sensational
Demons in Paradise is a 2017 trilingual Sri Lankan based documentary feature film written by Isabelle Marina and directed by Jude Ratnam in his directorial debut depicting the worst consequences for both Sinhalese and Tamils due to the 30 year long endured Sri Lankan Civil War. The portions of the film were mostly shot in Sri Lanka and was set in France. The film had its world premiere during the 2017 Cannes Film Festival in May 2017 and was opened to highly positive reviews making it as an internationally acclaimed and recognised film. Jude Ratnam became the first Tamil filmmaker to openly criticise the Tamil Tigers through the plot of the documentary film and the film received criticism among Sri Lankan Jaffna Tamils for the storyline.
In November 2005 President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Kumaratunga awarded national honours to 231 individuals for distinguished services. The awards ceremony was held on 14 November 2005 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo.
Mandakini is a 1999 Sri Lankan Sinhala drama film directed by H.D. Premaratne and executive production by Kithsiri Karunarathna. It stars Ravindra Randeniya and Sabeetha Perera in lead roles along with Asoka Peiris and W. Jayasiri. Music composed by Rohana Weerasinghe. It is the 925th Sri Lankan film in the Sinhala cinema.
Maggona Arachchi is a Sinhalese speaking Khandayat ethnic group of Sri Lanka. The House of Kaikesi Irugal migrated from Odisha in the 13th Century, claiming lineage to the Yadava royalty in the Kingdom of Kalinga in Eastern India. They are probably related to Khandayat people.
