Hela (people)

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Hela are the indigenous people of the island presently known as Sri Lanka.

The Hela are also known as 'Sinhela', 'Sinhala', 'Sinhalese' or 'Hela-Sinhela'. These synonyms find their origins in the two words: Sinha (meaning Lion) and Hela. i.e. Sinha+Hela. The last royal dynasty on the island was the Sinha (Lion) royal dynasty and the word Sinha finds it origins here. The word Hela itself means 'pristine'.

The Hela called their island, Heladiva. Heladiva literally means 'Island of the Hela'. Today the island is desribed by a foreign word (Indian) which means 'respleandant'. Throught history, the island was referred to by many a foreign name: 'Lanka' (Indian), 'Taprobana' (Greek), 'Serendib' (Arab), 'Ceilao' (Portuguese), 'Zelon' (Dutch) and 'Ceylon' (British).

The archeological record of the island dates pre-historic settements as far back as 125,000 years¹. The written history of the island dates from the origins of the Sinha royal dynasty and its founder prince Vijaya. Prince Vijaya's first marriage was to the Hela princess Kuveni who he later divorced in favour of an Indian princess. It is a popularly held misconception that, because prince Vijaya came from India, the Sinhela people too came from India. In fact it was only Vijaya and 200 of his followers who came from India. When prince Vijaya landed on the island over 2000 years ago, the Mahavansa (the written record) describes the existence of fields of rice and reservoirs indicating a well developed agrarian society. Renovated and upgraded by kings of the Sinha royal dynasty, these intricate resevoir systems, quite unique in the world are still used today.

The oral tradition of the Hela speaks of many royal dynasties prior to the Sinha royal dynasty: Manu, Tharaka, Mahabali, Raavana etc. The legendary King Raavana is known to many and is depicted as a villain in the Indian epic of the Ramayana. The Hela oral tradition also speaks of three visits by the Buddha himself who establsihed Buddhism on the island on a full-moon day in January. However, it wasn't until King Devanampiyatissa's reign (Sinha royal dynasty) did Buddhism become the state religion of the island.

The Hela speak Helabasa (also known as Sinhala). Today, Helabasa has two forms. The spoken and written form. The written form uses many words of Sanscrit origin whereas the spoken form is quite unique. Many early Hela texts such as the Hela Atuwa were unfortunately destroyed after their translation into Pali. Other great Hela texts include Amar Wathura, Kavu Silumina, Jathaka Potha and Sala Liheeniya.

Most notable of the Hela traditions is the celebration of the New Year which dawns on the 14th of April. It is a time of renewal and the Hela celebrate this renewal with 'spring cleaning', wearing new clothes, making special sweets, playing games as well as renewing relationships.

The Hela hold three values which are sacred and proven the test of time. These are Humanity, Wisdom and Self-sufficiency. Humanity as in morality and good-will. Wisdom as in simplicity and moderation. Self-sufficiency as in sustainability. The Hela believe, one becomes a Hela when one adopts these sacred values.