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The Colombo Chetties of Sri Lanka : Three Essays – By Michael Roberts Source : thuppahis I. The Colombo Chetties of Sri Lanka by Shirley Pulle Tissera The Colombo Chetties form an integral part of Sri Lankan society. They are a separate ethnic group different from the Tamils, Moors, Malays, Burghers, and the majority Sinhalese community. In the census of 1946 (Vol I Para I) the Superintendent of Census, Mr. A.G. Ranasinghe, states that the Colombo Chetties must receive mention in a racial distinction of Ceylon. The term does not include the Nattukottu Chetties who have formed themselves into a guild for carrying on business in Ceylon and are only temporary residents of the Island. Colombo Chetty –a representation painted by Hippolyte Silvaf  in the 1840s or so ** Origin: The Colombo Chetties belong to the Tana Vaisya Caste. The Vaisyas compose nobility of the land, and according to the classification made by Rev. Fr. ...