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The name given to Vijaya and his companions, founders of
the Sinhalese race in Ceylon.
It is said (Mhv.vii.42; cf. Dpv. ix.1) that Sīhala was the
name given to Sīhabāhu because he had killed the lion (sīham adinnavā iti), and
because of their connection with him, Vijaya and his companions were also called
Sīhalā.
The word, thereafter, became the name of the inhabitants
of Ceylon, as opposed to the Tamils and others.
The Sīhalā had a vīnā with very fine strings. KhpA.47.

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