The Sinhalese lived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C.,. Buddhism was introduced beginning in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century,2006(Ethnic groups:Sinhalese 83.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 3.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data/Religions:Buddhist 79.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2006 census provisional data)/
|