A few months back Sumna wrote about Love and Marrage in Sri Lanka.

In the post, he mentions "Catholic Karawa parents" and later on "Sinhala Durawa retired father." So that’s religion, race and caste stated. As the original post states with relation to the caste system on this island.
 “The concept sounds reasonably fair but the implications of it are rather distasteful.”

So with that in mind I thought of giving a brief outline of the caste system in this country. It all is about some form of occupation, were the importance of some is weighted against that of others, rather unfairly as most of the original occupations now bear no relevance to life in Sri Lanka at present.

Although Sri Lanka has a strong agricultural history the "Govigama / Goygama" caste often consider themselves to be at the top of pile.

They are as follows and in alphabetical  order:
Achari  are  Blacksmiths
Bahahelayo/Kumballu are Potters   
Badallu are Tom-Tom beaters
Durawe are Toddy tappers
Embettayo are Barbers
Gahalayo are Executioners
Galaddo are Workers in precious stones
Goygama are Cultivators 
Hakuro are Jaggery - makers
Halagama / Kurundukarayo are Cinnamon peelers
Hannali are Tailors  
Radaw are Washers of garments
Hunno are Lime Burners
Karawe are Fishermen/women
Kinnaru are (mat) weavers
Lokuruwo are Brassfounders
Oli are Dancers
Paduwo are Palanquin bearerers
Yamanna are Ironsmiths
Pannayo are Grass cutters


    While it should be stressed that this list only applies to Sinhalese Castes. The people of a Tamil / Muslim descent have their own cast systems as well which again are quite different from the above list.

NOTE :

Neither the author of this blog nor their significant other "V" believe nor agree in the use of the caste system most often with relation to marrage. But simply include it purely for information.

Hope this makes reading those ads just that easier. What do they say again…. “To be fore-warned is to be fore-armed” good luck.