Sri Lanka National Anthem

Sinhala Version
Sri Lanka Matha,
Apa Sri Lanka
Namo Namo Namo Namo Matha.
Sundara siri bharini,
Surandi athi sobhamana Lanka
Dhanya dhanaya neka mal pala thuru piri jaya bhoomiya ramya
Apa hata sapa siri setha sadhana,
Jee vanaye Matha!
Piliganu mana apa bhakti pooja,
Namo Namo Matha.
Apa Sri Lanka,
Namo Namo Namo Namo Matha.

Obave apa vidya,
Obamaya apa sathya.
Obave apa shakti,
Apa hada thula bhakti.
Oba apa aloke,
Apage anuprane.
Oba apa jeevana ve,
Apa muktiya obave,
Nava jeevana demine,
Nithina apa pubudhu karan Matha.
Gnana veerya vadavamina ragena yanu,
Mana jaya bhoomi kara.
Eka mavekuge daru kala bavina,
Yamu yamu wee nopama,
Prema vadamu sama bheda durara da,
Namo Namo Matha.


English Translation

Mother Lanka we worship Thee!
Plenteous in prosperity, Thou,
Beauteous in grace and love,
Laden with grain and luscious fruit,
And fragrant flowers of radiant hue,
Giver of life and all good things,
Our land of joy and victory,
Receive our grateful praise sublime,
Lanka! we worship Thee!

Thou gavest us knowledge and truth,
Thou art our strength and inward faith.
Our light divine and sentient being,
Breath of life and liberation,
Inspire us forever.
In wisdom and strength renewed,
Ill-will, hatred, strife all ended,
In love enfolded, a mighty nation,
Marching onward, all as children of one mother,
Leads us, Mother, to fullest freedom.

Sinhalese people

The Sinhalese people are the main ethnic group of Sri Lanka. They originated in the north-east section of India and later settled to Sri Lanka. They speak Sinhala, an Indo-European language and number approximately 15 million people with the vast majority found in Sri Lanka, while more than 400,000 live in other countries, mainly in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom.

Etymology
The Sinhalese are also known as "Hela" or "Sinhela". These synonyms find their origins in the two words: Sinha (meaning "lion") and Hela (meaning "pristine"). The name Sinhala translates to "lion people" and refers to the myths regarding the descent of the legendary founder of the Sinhalese people, the prince Vijaya. The last royal dynasty on the island was the Sinha (Lion) royal dynasty and the word Sinha finds it origins here.