Caste system in Sri Lanka
The caste systems of Sri Lanka were historically not tied to the religious establishment but rather a tool to service the ruling elite - a model more reminiscent of feudalism in Europe.[2] The interior arable land is largely dominated by the Govigama caste under the Sinhalese and by the Vellalar under the Sri Lankan Tamils, who are traditionally involved as husbandmen and form approximately half the population of their respective ethnicities.[10][11][12] Political power and wealth have largely replaced caste as the main factor in Sri Lankan social stratification, especially in the Sinhalese and Indian Tamil communities.[13] Ponnambalam Ramanathan, under British Ceylon, opposed extending voting rights to the people and urged reservation of franchise only to men of the Vellalar caste.[22] Ancient Sri Lankan texts, such as the Pujavaliya, Sadharmaratnavaliya, Yogaratnakaraya and inscriptions, show that a feudal system namely existed among the Sinhalese.[28] The most important feature of the Kandyan system was Rajakariya ("the king's work"), which linked each caste to occupation and demanded service to the court and religious institutions.[39] The artisans, known locally as Kammalar or Vishwakarma consists of the Kannar (brass-workers), Kollar (blacksmiths), Tattar (goldsmiths), Tatchar (carpenters), Kartatchar (sculptor).[40][41] Along with the Kammalar were the Ambattar (barbers), Kadaiyar (lime burners), Koviar (farmers), Kusavar (potters), Maraiyar (conch blowers), Nattuvar (musician), Nalavar (toddy-tappers), Pallar (farmers), Paraiyar (drummers and weavers), Turumbar (dhobies) and Vannar (dhobies) the domestic servants termed as Kudimakkal.Those who are considered to be of higher castes occupy the first row of line rooms, and that sect includes Maravar, Kallar, Agamudaiyar, Mudaliyar (kaikolars), Mutharaiyar (Watch mans) etc.Even though they belong to the labour category under the British rule and post-independence of the country, they were influential among conductors, tea makers, manganese (or supervisors), and other officials.
SinhaleseSri Lankan TamilIndian Tamilsarable landGovigamaVellalarSri Lankan TamilshusbandmenpeasantsBathgamaPallarscoastal landKaravasKaraiyarseafaringwarfareartisansKammalarendogamousblacksmithgoldsmithcoppersmithcarpentersstonemasonstoddy tappingDuravaNalavarjaggeryVahumpuraCantarsdrummersBeravaParaiyarBuddhismHinduismbarbersdhobiesAmbattarVannarPonnambalam RamanathanBritish CeylonPrince Vijayagenetic studies on SinhaleseCentral HighlandsKingdom of KandySalagamaKaravaAbayagiriNorthernEasternSri Lankan VellalarKoviyarKaraiyarsParavarThimilarMannar regionSouth Indian ParavarPortuguese ruleMukkuvarspearl diversEastern Sri Lankalargely MuslimsPuttalam regionVishwakarmaKadaiyarKoviarPallardomestic servantsCantarMadapalliSeerpadarSiviyarMaravarSri Lankan ChettiesBharatha peopleCoast Veddasvillage deities of the Sri Lankan TamilsSri Lankan MoorsTolkāppiyam PorulatikaramSangam literaturetinaisHill Country TamilsBritishindentured labourIndian caste systemTamil NaduParaiyarsSakkiliarSocial class in Sri LankaCaste system in IndiaCaste-related violence in IndiaPhadnis, UrmilaThe Journal of Asian StudiesPolitics of Sri LankaDonoughmore ConstitutionSoulbury ConstitutionRepublican ConstitutionConstitutionKandyan lawThesavalamaiMuslim lawRoman-Dutch lawEnglish lawCrisis of the Sixteenth CenturyWijayaba KollayaSinhalese–Portuguese WarPortuguese conquest of JaffnaBritish invasion of CeylonKandyan WarsAmerican Ceylon MissionKandyan ConventionSri Lankan independence movementGreat Rebellion of 1817–18Colebrooke-Cameron CommissionMatale rebellionTemperance movement1915 Ceylonese riotsCeylon National CongressJaffna Youth CongressDonoughmore CommissionSuriya-Mal MovementBracegirdle IncidentCocos Islands mutinySoulbury CommissionIndependence DayCeylon Citizenship Act