The Sinhalese reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Sinhalese

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Sinhalese make up a majority of Sri Lanka, whom probably came from Northern India. They speak the Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language. Legend has it that they decend from King Vijaya and his party of several hundred that set foot on the island around 500 BCE.

Sinhalese are also said to be mixed with North and East, in addition to Javanese.

They are generally considered to be a Caucasoid race, but display some traits of their Dravidian neighbours (Australoid with strong Caucasoid traits), possibly due to assimilation of Tamils.

See also Tamilss, Sinhala.