African Sri Lankans, mainly the Sri Lanka Kaffirs, are a very small Ethnic group in Sri Lanka who are descendants of African mercenaries, musicians, and labourers taken to what is now Sri Lanka by Portuguese colonists during the period of Portuguese colonial rule on the island. There are currently around 1,000 African Sri Lankans. They live in pockets of communities along the island's coastal regions of Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Negombo. The Portuguese colonists used them to fight the Ceylonese Kings.
The main African Sri Lankans are known a
Kaffirs This term is not used as a racial pejorative as in other parts of the world. Some were originally Muslims, while others practiced African religions, but many have now converted to Catholicism and Buddhism. They speak a Sri Lanka Kaffir language, lyrical creole language with a mix of native Sinhalese and Tamil.
Groups
Sri Lanka Kaffirs
The Sri Lankan Kaffirs are an ethnic group in Sri Lanka who are partially descended from 16th century Portugal, Portuguese traders and the African people, Africans who were brought by them to work as labourers and soldiers to fight against the List of Sri Lankan monarchs, Sri Lankan kings.
See also
* Siddi
References
External links
Kaffirs in Sri Lanka - Descendants of Africansat Sri Lanka virtual library site.
at Sri Lanka virtual library site.
African diaspora in Sri Lanka,
Sri Lankan people of African descent,
People of African descent
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