A Review of Origins and Evolution of the Caste System in Sri Lanka

This review examines the origins, evolution, and contemporary relevance of the caste system in Sri Lanka, with a focus on its development within the Sinhalese and Tamil communities. Drawing on historical chronicles such as the Mahavamsa, colonial records, and contemporary academic literature, the study examines how indigenous social structures, religious ideologies—particularly Buddhism and Hinduism—and colonial administrations contributed to the shaping of caste hierarchies. The paper further examines how the Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial powers utilised caste for governance and economic exploitation, reinforcing or restructuring social divisions through legal codification, labor exploitation, and missionary activity. Post-independence reforms, notably universal education and economic liberalisation facilitated social mobility and weakened caste rigidity, especially in urban contexts. However, the caste continues to influence politics, religious institutions, and rural communities. By applying theoretical frameworks such as Functionalism, Marxism, Weberian stratification, and Subaltern Studies, the review explains the resilience and adaptability of caste as a social institution. The study concludes with policy recommendations and calls for further longitudinal and intervention-based research to mitigate caste-based inequalities and promote inclusive development in Sri Lanka.