The Sinhala Hound is a native dog found throughout Sri Lanka, often living in a semi-wild state scavenging for food.

[1] According to a native legend, when Prince Vijaya first set foot on Sri Lanka in the 6th century BC, he was greeted by the barking of dogs; the Mahāvaṃsa mentions domestic dogs belonging to the island's Stone Age inhabitants, the Yaksha.

[2][note 1] The average lifetime of Sinhala Hounds is 10-13 years.

Long overlooked by authorities in favour of imported dog breeds, only recently[when?]

has the Sri Lankan Kennel Club been encouraged to recognize the landrace as a breed.