A recent study has uncovered striking genetic connections between Sri Lanka’s Vedda people, considered the island’s earliest human inhabitants, and five tribal populations in India. Published this week in the scientific journal Mitochondrion, the study sheds light on the genetic roots of the Vedda, reinforcing their ties to the earliest modern human populations in the Indian subcontinent.
Conducted by a team of scientists from India and Sri Lanka, the study demonstrates a significant genetic similarity between the Vedda and the Austroasiatic Munda-speaking Santhal and Juang tribes in Odisha, as well as the Dravidian-speaking Irula, Paniya, and Pallar communities found in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
According to Gyaneshwer Chaubey, a population geneticist at Banaras Hindu University and the study’s supervisor, this unexpected genetic affinity underscores the distinct demographic history of Sri Lanka. Unlike the mixed genetic composition of the Sinhalese and Tamil populations, the Vedda have remained relatively isolated, preserving their genetic identity over millennia.
The Vedda, traditionally hunter-gatherers, are believed to be direct descendants of the island’s earliest inhabitants, with archaeological evidence suggesting human occupation of Sri Lanka for over 30,000 years. Kumarasamy Thangaraj, a scientist at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, notes that the study provides valuable insights into the genetic origins of the Vedda and their historical interactions with neighboring populations.
Despite centuries of coexistence with the Sinhalese and Tamil communities, the Vedda have maintained their distinct genetic makeup, as highlighted by Anjana Welikala, a scientist at Colombo University and the study’s first author. Lead author Ruwandi Ranasingh emphasizes that the Vedda’s genetic isolation reflects their deep-rooted connection to early Indian populations and their unique demographic trajectory in Sri Lanka.
The study’s findings challenge earlier anthropological interpretations and underscore the complexity of Sri Lanka’s genetic landscape. In contrast to the genetic homogeneity observed among the Sinhalese and Tamil populations, the Vedda stand out as a genetically distinct group, preserving their ancient heritage amidst changing demographic dynamics.
