Genetic studies on Sri Lankan Tamils
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Although Sri Lankan Tamils are culturally and linguistically distinct, genetic studies indicate that they are closely related to other ethnic groups in the island while being related to the Indian Tamils from South India and Bengalis from East India as well. There are various studies that indicate varying degrees of connections between Sri Lankan Tamils, Sinhalese and Indian ethnic groups.
According to a genetic admixture study by Dr. Gautam K. Kshatriya in 1995, the Sri Lankan Tamil are closely related to the Sinhalese who are closely related to Indian Tamils. Kshatriya found that the genetic makeup of Sri Lankan Tamils shows an overlap of about 55.2% (± 9.47%) with that of Sinhalese people while the Sinhalese had the greatest contribution from South Indian Tamils (69.86% +/- 0.61), followed by Bengalis from the East India (25.41% +/- 0.51). With both the Sri Lankan Tamils and Sinhalese in the island sharing a common gene pool of 55%. They are farthest from the indigenous Veddahs.[1] This is also supported by a genetic distance study, which showed low differences in genetic distance between Tamils and the Sinhalese.[2] Tamils and the Sinhalese also share similar cultures in terms of kinship classification, cousin marriage, dress and housing.[3]
