The Tamil threat to the Sinhalese Buddhist…

The Tamil threat to the Sinhalese Buddhist kingdoms becomes very real in the fifth and sixth centuries CE.

Three Hindu empires in southern India—the Pandya, Pallava, and Chola—are becoming more assertive.

The Sinhalese perception of this threat intensifies because in India, Buddhism—vulnerable to pressure and absorption by Hinduism—has already receded.

Tamil ethnic and religious consciousness also matures during this period.

In terms of culture, language, and religion, the Tamils have identified themselves as Dravidian, Tamil, and Hindu, respectively.