Sri Lankan Tamils ( also ) or
Ceylon Tamils, also known as
Eelam Tamils in
Tamil, are members of the
Tamil ethnic group native to the South Asian island state of
Sri Lanka. According to anthropological and archaeological evidence, Sri Lankan Tamils have a very long
history in Sri Lanka and have lived on the island since around the 2nd century BCE. Most modern Sri Lankan Tamils claim descent from residents of
Jaffna Kingdom, a former kingdom in the north of the island and
Vannimai chieftaincies from the east. They constitute a majority in the
Northern Province, live in significant numbers in the
Eastern Province, and are in the minority throughout the rest of the country. 70% of Sri Lankan Tamils in Sri Lanka live in the Northern and Eastern provinces.