Sinhala: The Soul of Sri Lanka – Exploring its Legacy and Culture
Sinhalese belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. However, it holds a unique position due to its geographical and historical isolation from other Indo-Aryan languages. Sinhalese is part of the Insular Indo-Aryan subgroup, which includes Dhivehi (spoken in the Maldives), the only closely related language still in use today.
"Learn to Handwrite Sinhalese Alphabets "
The divergence of Sinhalese from other Indo-Aryan languages occurred when Indo-Aryan speakers migrated to Sri Lanka, around the 5th century BCE, and adapted their language to the island’s existing linguistic and cultural environment. This isolation led to the development of distinct phonetic, lexical, and grammatical features that set Sinhalese apart from its northern cousins like Hindi, Bengali, or Marathi.
Geographic Distribution and Number of Speakers
Sinhalese is spoken primarily in Sri Lanka, where it serves as a mother tongue for approximately 16 to 17 million people, or about 75% of the population. It is also used as a second language by Sri Lankan Tamils, Moors, and Burghers, contributing to a total of over 20 million speakers within the island.
In terms of geographic distribution:
Central and Southern Sri Lanka: Predominantly Sinhalese-speaking regions, including cities like Kandy, Galle, and Matara.
Western Province (including Colombo): Highly bilingual or trilingual due to urban diversity, but Sinhalese remains the most widely spoken language.
North and East: Primarily Tamil-speaking areas, but many residents speak Sinhalese as a second language.
Outside Sri Lanka, smaller Sinhalese-speaking communities exist in the Middle East, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, primarily among the Sri Lankan diaspora.
Brief Historical Background
Sinhalese evolved from an archaic form of Prakrit, brought to the island by settlers from northern India. The earliest recorded form of the language appears in inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century BCE, during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa, a time when Buddhism was introduced to the island by Mahinda, son of Emperor Ashoka.
The language has undergone several developmental stages:
Ancient Sinhala (up to 3rd century CE) – Found mainly in inscriptions.
Medieval Sinhala (3rd – 13th century) – Marked by a significant infusion of Pali and Sanskrit words, mainly due to religious texts and influence.
Modern Sinhala (13th century – present) – The spoken and literary form we recognize today, with greater vernacular usage and stylistic diversity.
The language has absorbed numerous words from Pali, Sanskrit, Tamil, Portuguese, Dutch, and English, reflecting Sri Lanka’s diverse colonial and cultural history.
Derived Languages
The only language closely related to Sinhalese is Dhivehi (Maldivian), spoken in the Maldives. Both languages likely share a common ancestor from the early Prakrit dialects that evolved separately due to geographical isolation. While not mutually intelligible today, linguistic studies show structural and lexical similarities, especially in older Dhivehi.
Writing System
Sinhalese is written using the Sinhala script, a Brahmic script evolved from ancient Grantha characters. The script is characterized by its rounded letterforms, a design necessity in early palm-leaf manuscripts where angular strokes could damage the writing material.
The script consists of:
Sinhala Suddha (Pure Sinhala): Used for everyday communication, containing 60+ characters.
Sinhala Miśra (Mixed Sinhala): Includes additional letters for transcribing Sanskrit and Pali words.
The writing is from left to right and is an abugida, meaning each consonant carries an inherent vowel sound, which can be modified using diacritics.
Distinguished Literary Figures and Their Works
Sinhalese literature boasts a long and distinguished tradition that spans religious, poetic, historical, and narrative genres.
Classical Figures:
Thera Mahanama – Author of the Mahavamsa (5th century CE), a historical chronicle of Sri Lankan kings, written in Pali but central to Sinhalese literary and cultural tradition.
Vidyachakravarti – A poet known for the “Saddharmarathnavaliya” (13th century), a significant prose text that adapted Buddhist stories into Sinhala.
Ven. Dharmasena Thera – Author of “Pujavaliya”, a 13th-century anthology of Buddhist tales, deeply rooted in moral and religious instruction.
Modern Writers:
Martin Wickramasinghe (1890–1976) – Regarded as the father of modern Sinhalese literature. His novels like “Gamperaliya”, “Viragaya”, and “Kaliyugaya” explore themes of tradition, modernity, and personal introspection.
Ediriweera Sarachchandra (1914–1996) – A literary and theatrical giant. His play “Maname” is considered a cornerstone of Sinhala drama.
Gunadasa Amarasekara – A prolific writer and intellectual who contributed both fiction and philosophical essays on the Sinhalese identity.
Folk Literature and Oral Traditions
Sinhalese folk literature is a vibrant part of the island’s cultural life, transmitted orally through generations and often tied to rituals, festivals, and daily rural life. These include:
Kavi (verses or poems) – Simple, rhymed poetic forms used in traditional songs and proverbs.
Nurthi and Nadagam – Traditional forms of theater with musical and dramatic storytelling, often based on historical or mythological themes.
Folktales – Including Andare stories (about a court jester with wit and wisdom) and Mahadenamutta, an elderly sage who often misunderstood the world around him in humorous ways.
Many of these oral traditions are tied to Buddhist festivals and agricultural celebrations, such as the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, where songs and chants are performed during rituals and games.
Special Mentions and Cultural Significance
Sinhala is one of two official languages of Sri Lanka, the other being Tamil, with English often used for official and commercial purposes.
The language plays a pivotal role in Buddhist religious practice, as many sermons, chants, and rituals are performed in Sinhala or a mix of Sinhala and Pali.
Media and education are largely conducted in Sinhala in southern and central parts of the country. Newspapers, television programs, films, and school curricula predominantly use the language.
The Sinhala Language Day (Sinhala Bhasha Dinaya) is celebrated annually to promote linguistic pride and preservation.
"Learn to Handwrite Sinhalese Alphabets "
The Sinhalese language is more than a medium of communication—it is a reflection of Sri Lanka’s ancient heritage, resilient culture, and diverse influences. From its Indo-Aryan roots and uniquely evolved script to its classical literature and modern authors, Sinhala continues to thrive in both everyday life and artistic expression. In a globalized world, preserving and celebrating such languages is crucial not just for linguistic diversity but for maintaining the cultural richness they embody.