Caste System & Social Structures

Although officially abolished, the caste system still plays a role in Sri Lanka — in marriages, rural coexistence, and politics. It is less rigid than in India but more present than one might expect.

Among the Sinhalese, the Goyigama caste (farmers) is the highest and produces most politicians and businesspeople. Among the Tamils, the caste system is more pronounced — the Vellalar traditionally dominate.

For travelers, the caste system is hardly visible, but it helps to understand the social dynamics: why certain villages are inhabited only by certain groups, why marriage ads in newspapers specify caste, and why the tea plantation Tamils are still socially marginalized today.