Sinhala, also known as Sinhalese, is the official language of Sri Lanka and is spoken by the majority Sinhalese ethnic group. It belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. Sinhala has a rich literary and cultural heritage, with a history dating back over two millennia.

The Sinhala script, derived from the ancient Brahmi script, is used for writing the language. It is an abugida, where each character represents a consonant with an inherent vowel sound, which can be modified with diacritics. Sinhala has a unique phonetic structure and a distinctive set of sounds.

Sinhala plays a central role in Sri Lankan culture, literature, and religious practices. It has produced a significant body of literature, including classical poetry, religious texts, and contemporary works. Despite its cultural importance, Sinhala, like many other languages, faces challenges in the context of globalisation and the dominance of English in formal education and communication. Efforts are being made to promote the use of Sinhala in various domains and ensure its preservation for future generations.