Tamil settlement of Sri Lanka

[12] Following the invasion of Kalinga Magha in 1215 AD, and the subsequent establishment of the Jaffna Kingdom and Vannimai chieftaincies in the east, Tamil settlements became predominant in these regions.

Epigraphic evidence describes traders and others self identifying as Damelas or Damedas (Sinhala Prakrit for Tamils) in Anuradhapura and other areas of Sri Lanka as early as 2nd century BCE.

In the early stages they were brought for short periods and served political purposes, fighting on behalf of rulers whose positions were insecure or those who had aspirations of taking the throne.

The Sinhalese family name Palihakkara (Palaikkarar) originated from the Velakkara soldiers and the suffix Agampadi in front of some names of the Salagama sub caste "Hewapanne"(militia) originated from the Agampadi soldiers, who married Salagama Hewapanne women, Large scale mercantile activity from peninsular India primarily came from the Coromandel Coast.

During the period of the Crisis of the Sixteenth Century and the arrival of the Portuguese to Sri Lanka also saw the migration of various Southern Indian and Tamil speaking groups.

The Bharatha people are descendants of Tamil speaking Paravar of Southern India who migrated to Sri Lanka under Portuguese rule during that time.

[21] Several hundreds of converted Christian Bharathas were brought from the Indian mainland to the western shores of Sri Lanka by the Portuguese to wrest control on the pearl trade.

Like the Portuguese and Dutch, the British colonial period saw the transportation and migration of Tamils to Sri Lanka, but on a much larger scale.

Indian Tamils were brought to Sri Lanka as indentured labourers during the 19th and 20th centuries to work on coffee, tea and rubber plantations owned by the British.

Workers were recruited from around the Tamil Nadu cities of Tirunelveli, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai and Thanjavur in 1827 by Governor Edward Barnes on the request of George Bird, a pioneering planter.

[34] Indian Moors were a grouping of people during the colonial period distinguished by their Muslim faith and whose origins traced back to the British Raj.