Sri Lankans in France refer to residents and citizens of
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
n ancestry, who were born in or immigrated to
France legally and illegally. The estimated population of Sri Lankans in France is 52,300.
History
Although most of immigration from Sri Lanka started during the
Sri Lankan Civil War, there have been a presence of Sri Lankans in France since the early 20th century since the times of
Ceylon. Ceylonese in high positions often went to Europe to study, tour and visit, mostly in England, but also France such as that of
Sir John Kotelawala. There have been Ceylonese who fought alongside the British on the Western Front (areas of present-day Belgium, France and Luxembourg) during
WW1
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
.
Since the Sri Lankan Civil War the issue of illegal Sri Lankan immigration is a topic of concern for France.
Demographics
The Sri Lankan population in France is estimated at approximately 52,300.
However, the actual number is difficult to ascertain since statistics by ethnicity or religious denomination are prohibited in France.
Organisations
The Sri Lankan Diaspora have created a number of associations which organise Sri Lankan festivals, cultural functions and sports events for the Sri Lankan community.
Notable people
*
Antonythasan Jesuthasan
Antonythasan Jesuthasan ( ta, அந்தோனிதாசன் யேசுதாசன்; born 1967), also known by the pseudonym Shobasakthi ( ta, ஷோபா சக்தி), is a Sri Lankan Tamil author and actor.
Early life and fam ...
*
Tampalawela Dhammaratana
See also
*
Asian diasporas in France
*
Sri Lankan diaspora
The Sri Lankan diaspora are Sri Lankan emigrants and expatriates from Sri Lanka, and their descendants, that reside in a foreign country. They number a total estimated population of around 3 million.
Expatriate workers
Expatriate workers to ...
*
Immigration to France
References
External links
Embassy of Sri Lanka in FranceTHE CHARM OF LITTLE JAFFNA“Leveraging Remittance for Socio-Economic Development in Sri Lanka”
{{Portal bar, France, Sri Lanka
Asian diaspora in France
Immigration to France by country of origin
Immigration to France
Sri Lankan diaspora