Published : May 28, 2026 at 4:14 PM IST
Varanasi: How did modern humans travel from Africa to South Asia, Australia and beyond? A new international genetic study published in PLOS ONE suggests the answer may lie along ancient coastlines, citing Sri Lanka as a crucial gateway in humanity’s early migration story.
The study was conducted by 16 researchers from five institutions worldwide, including prominent contributions from researchers at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and the University of Colombo. The research examined the ancestral origins of Sri Lanka’s three major communities - Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamils, and Vedda people through large-scale DNA analysis.
Researchers used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), a type of genetic material inherited exclusively from mothers, making it a powerful tool for tracing human ancestry over thousands of years.
Lead author Dr. Anjana Welikala of Sri Lanka said the team sequenced 139 new genomes and compared them with 247 global datasets, making it the largest genetic analysis conducted on this subject to date.
Lead researcher and geneticist Gyaneshwer Chaubey explained that scientists have long debated how humans migrated from Africa to Australia and Oceania. He said two main theories existed: One was the inland route where migration happened through continental land corridors. Second was coastal route in which movement took place along coastlines and maritime edges.
The genetic evidence from Sri Lanka strongly supports the coastal route hypothesis. According to the study, around 57,000 years ago, early humans leaving Africa likely travelled along the Indian Ocean coastline and reached Sri Lanka. At the time, lower sea levels created a land bridge between India and Sri Lanka, facilitating movement.
Researchers divided Sri Lanka’s settlement history into four major periods:
1. Early Settlement Phase (Around 57,000 Years Ago): This marks the arrival of modern humans in South Asia. Archaeological remains from Sri Lanka’s Fa-Hien Lena and Batadomba-lena caves, dated to around 40,000 years ago, support this timeline.
2. Post-Ice Age Phase: Following the last Ice Age, West Eurasian genetic influence entered Sri Lanka through India.
3. Historical Phase (Around 7,000 Years Ago): The growth of agriculture and trade intensified population exchanges between India and Sri Lanka.
4. Modern Migration Era: Trade networks, maritime travel, and foreign invasions introduced new layers of genetic mixing.
New Insights Into the Vedda Community
The study also revealed important findings about Sri Lanka’s indigenous Vedda community. Researchers found that the Vedda people are direct descendants of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, believed to be among the island’s earliest inhabitants.
Genetic evidence indicates a strong founder effect - a phenomenon where long-term isolation preserves ancient genetic patterns but can reduce population diversity. The study warns that the Vedda population size has declined significantly.
The research found that West Eurasian genes, including haplogroups U7 and H13, entered Sri Lanka indirectly through India rather than via direct migration.
It also concluded that despite differences in language and culture, the Sinhalese and Tamil communities share a broadly similar genetic foundation. Both populations show deep ancestral connections to migrants from the Indian subcontinent, particularly South Indian populations.
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