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The Afghans of Sri Lanka – By Randika Jayakody & Jerome Perera Source : Brisbane Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – September 2022 Sri Lanka and Afghanistan share a deep history and connection through a little known ethnic group called the Ceylonese Afghans. The Ceylonese Afghans trace their ancestry to the regions of modern day Afghanistan and Central Asia. The community is part of the larger Pashtun ethnic group making up a significant population in modern day Pakistan and Afghanistan. Also known as Pathans, the Ceylonese Afghans were recorded in Ceylon’s first census in British Ceylon. Known as Kabul Manushiyan and Afghan Manushiyan in Ceylonese and Moor Tamil, Afghan Karayo in Sinhalese, Orang Bengali in Sri Lankan Malay indicates that their presence was known to all communities. Ceylon Afghans arrived as horse breeders and keepers, labourers, elephant keepers, and mercenaries from as early at the 1st century. However, they continued to ...