Editing Sinhalese people (section)

===Language and literature===
{{Main|Sinhala language|Sri Lankan literature}}
{{See also|Languages of Sri Lanka|Elu}}

[[File:Word Sinhala in Yasarath font.svg|thumb|The word Sinhala in Yasarath font.]]
[[File:Ola Scriptures And Art Works Of Venerable Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera.jpg|thumb|An ola leaf manuscript written in Sinhala.]]

Sinhalese people speak [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]], also known as "Helabasa"; this language has two varieties, spoken and written. Sinhala is an [[Indo-Aryan language]] within the broader group of [[Indo-European languages]].<ref name="Language"/> The early form of the language was brought to Sri Lanka by the ancestors of the Sinhalese people from northern India who settled on the island in the sixth century BCE.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://mahavamsa.org/| title = The Mahavamsa.org. (2007). The Mahavamsa – Great Chronicle – History of Sri Lanka – Mahawansa. Last accessed 3 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hussein |first1=Asiff |title=Evolution of the Sinhala language |url=http://www.lankalibrary.com/books/sinhala.htm |website=www.lankalibrary.com |access-date=14 November 2018}}</ref> Sinhala developed in a way different from the other Indo-Aryan languages because of the geographic separation from its Indo-Aryan sister languages. It was influenced by many languages, prominently [[Pali]], the sacred language of Southern Buddhism, Telugu and [[Sanskrit]]. Many early texts in the language such as the ''Hela Atuwa'' were lost after their translation into [[Pali]]. Other significant Sinhala texts include ''Amāvatura'', ''Kavu Silumina'', ''Jathaka Potha'' and ''Sala Liheeniya''. Sinhala has also adopted many [[:Category:Lists of Sinhala words of foreign origin|loanwords of foreign origin]], including from many Indian such as [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and European languages such as Portuguese, Dutch, and English.<ref name="everyculsin"/>

Sandesha Kavyas written by Buddhist priests of Sri Lanka are regarded as some of the most sophisticated and versatile works of literature in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-13 |title=Thisara Sandeshaya |url=https://www.lankapradeepa.com/2021/10/thisara-sandeshaya.html |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Lankapradeepa - Gateway to Sri Lanka |language=en}}</ref> The Sinhala language was mainly inspired by Sanskrit and Pali, and many words of the Sinhala language derive from these languages. Today some English words too have come in as a result of the British occupation during colonial times, and the exposure to foreign cultures through television and foreign films. Additionally many Dutch and Portuguese words can be seen in the coastal areas. Sinhalese people, depending on where they live in Sri Lanka, may also additionally speak English and or [[Tamil language|Tamil]]. According to the 2012 Census 23.8% or 3,033,659 Sinhalese people also spoke English and 6.4% or 812,738 Sinhalese people also spoke Tamil.<ref name="Census2012">{{cite web |title=Census of Population and Housing 2011 |url=http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=FinalPopulation&gp=Activities&tpl=3 |website=www.statistics.gov.lk |publisher=Department of Census and Statistics |access-date=14 November 2018 |archive-date=16 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416015917/http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=FinalPopulation&gp=Activities&tpl=3 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the [[Negombo]] area bilingual fishermen who generally identify themselves as Sinhalese also speak the [[Negombo Tamil dialect]]. This dialect has undergone considerable convergence with spoken [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]].<ref name=Bonta>{{cite journal|last=Bonta|first=Steven|title=Negombo Fishermen's Tamil (NFT): A Sinhala Influenced Dialect from a Bilingual Sri Lankan Community|journal=International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics|date=June 2008|volume=37}}</ref>

Folk tales like ''Mahadana Muttha saha Golayo'' and ''Kawate Andare'' continue to entertain children today. ''Mahadana Muttha'' tells the tale of a fool cum Pundit who travels around the country with his followers (''Golayo'') creating mischief through his ignorance. ''Kawate Andare'' tells the tale of a witty court jester and his interactions with the royal court and his son.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

In the modern period, Sinhala writers such as [[Martin Wickremasinghe]] and [[G.&nbsp;B. Senanayake]] have drawn widespread acclaim. Other writers of repute include Mahagama Sekera and Madewela S. Ratnayake. [[Martin Wickramasinghe]] wrote the immensely popular children's novel ''Madol Duwa''. Munadasa Cumaratunga's ''Hath Pana'' is also widely known.{{cn|date=May 2025}}