Sri Lankans in Singapore

Ethnic group Sri Lankans in Singapore consist mainly of Singaporeans of Sri Lankan origin whose ancestors came to Singapore before the independence of the island. With respect to ethnic group data in Singapore, Sri Lankans were classified under "Others" until 1970, and have since been classified as "Indians". History Colonial period The Jaffna Tamils were predominantly large in number amongst people who came to resettle in Singapore and British Malaya in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Ever since their arrival in Singapore, they identifying themselves "Ceylonese". They dominated the bureaucracy in Singapore as the British administration preferred employing Ceylonese individuals as bureaucrats in many of their Asian colonies. Ceylonese Tamils made up an overwhelming majority in the civil service of British Malaya and Singapore prior to independence.[circular reference] In 1909, the Ceylon Tamils, who had grown in number to about 300 families, formed the Singapore Ceylon Tamils’ Association (SCTA). Sri Lankans in Singapore and Malaysia formed the "Lanka Regiment" of the Indian National Army, directly under Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Former Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Y