The VH/GS level analysis of ethnic distribution in Vavunia District only confirms this pattern. All the VH areas within the VSS division had a clear Sinhalese majority in 1921

(Table 3). This picture remained intact even after 50 years in 1971. The very same VH/GS areas that had a Sinhalese majority in 1921 continued that way even in 1981, except for these GS areas, all others had a very clear Tamil majority. However, there were pockets of Sinhalese concentration along the east coast, but because they were scattered, they did not add up to constitute a majority in any GS area at a GS area scale analysis. The largest-Sinhalese concentration was found in Kokilai with 40. 5% of the total population in the GS division.

Some Sinhalese concentrations in this region can be explained through two processes.

The concentration of the Singhalese of these concentration are the only surviving Sinhalese villages that existed in this region during the pre-modern period. These villages with the minimum critical number of people have been able to retain their ethnic identity even though the trend in the 19th Century and early 20th Century was toward assimilation into the Tamil community as were as large scale inmigration into the Sinhalese areas in the south. The deep sea fishing along the east coast had always been done by the Sinhalese fisherman from other parts of the island especially by those from Western and Southern Coast. During the fishing season the Sinhalese fishermen migrated to these areas and established temporary settlements only to go back to their own villages during the offseason. However, over the years, these temporary settlements began to develop into permanent settlements. This provides the second reason for the existence of pockets of Sinhalese concentrations along the east coast in the Vavunia District. It was not a state aided migratory pattern just as the Tamil migration to Colombo was not as opposed to the Indian Tamil migration into the Sinhalese heartland which was a deliberate and planned effort by the British colonial government.

The most important fact about the population distribution pattern in the Vavunia District, between 1921 and 1971 is the lack of dynamism or in other words, the relative spatial stability of the Sinhalese and Tamil dominated areas within the district. Immigration resulting from the establishment of peasant colonization schemes in these areas does not appear to have affected the ethnic ratio of the population during the period between 1921 and 1971. Thus the southern parts of the Vavunia District, and thus that part of the Northern Province which came under the present analysis shows that the pattern of distribution of the major ethnic groups had not noticeably changed during the 50 year period between 1921 and 1971.

The Anuradhapura District, based on its present boundaries, has largely been a Sinhalese area from the early part of the history of the island. All the DRO/AGA divisions within the district have had reported a Sinhalese majority since the census enumerations first began in 1871 (Map 5,1 - 5.5). The pattern emerging from VH/GS area analysis does not alter what emerges from the DRO/AGA level analysis. All but one VH area had a Sinhalese majority; the exception being Medalassa, located in the southern part of the district which had a Muslim majority. There were several Muslim agglomerations scattered in various parts of the district, specially in urban VH areas. However, none of them had been able to constitute a Muslim majority in any one of the VH areas.

The Tamil population in the district was very low and there was no identifiable Tamil settlements or villages in the district in 1921. Again, the few Tamils living in the district were concentrated in the urban areas, e.g. Anuradhapura, Kekirawa and a few rural areas, e.g. Kandu Tulana, Aluth Kadawat Tulana , Ihala Wew Tulana and Madaatuwa Tulana. Anuradhapura town has always had a relatively large Tamil population; they were largely engaged in business and related activities. The rural Tamils were engaged in the same types of economic activities, i„e. paddy farming etc, carried out by the rural Sinhalese. There was a small presence of Indian Tamils in the District in 1921. They too were concentrated largely in urban areas and engaged in low paying jobs such as conservancy labour.

The pattern of distribution of ethnic population in 1971 in Anuradhapura District at the GS level had not noticeably deviated from that of 1921. What has mostly happened is the change in the relative size of the proportion of each ethnic group in number of GS areas. The increase of the Sinhalese population in number of GS areas during this period of 50 years between 1921 and 1971 can largely be attributed to the immigration of the Sinhalese into the peasant colonization schemes established during this period (Table 4).

Of all the districts in which colonization schemes were established, Anuradhapura received the largest number of settlers. Although the newly started colonization schemes incorporated the existing Sinhalese villages, a large number of settlers have come from outside; partly from other GS areas within the district and largely from the congested districts in the wet zone. The net result of this process was the large increase of the Sinhalese population in areas where the Sinhalese were the majority to begin with. Certainly, no Tamils were displaced. In fact, the number of Tamils in Anuradhapura the District increased significantly during this period.

The Sinhalese continued to dominate in almost all the GS areas in the District except four which had acquired a Muslim majority. The Muslims were the largest minority in the district even in 1971. Their proportion has increased in several GS areas, while in some others it has decreased during the 50 year period (Table 5). However, this change has not affected their distribution pattern in any substantial manner.

The Muslims continued to have a scattered pattern of distribution even in 1971. However, they had been able to secure the majority status in four GS areas, i.e. Gambirisgaswewa, Nachchaduwa , Ihala Talpe and Yoda Ela by 1971 making the Sinhalese the minority in them.

The Tamil population in the district was very low even in 1971. Although they were present in many GS areas, only in one, Kahatagaspitiya were they able to constitute at least 10% of the GS Area.

However, of all the minority ethnic groups, the Tamil presence was found in more GS areas followed by the Muslims. The Indian Tamils recorded the lowest (Table 6).

This has been more or less the general pattern even 50 years earlier in 1921. The increase in the number of GS areas by 1971 has made it possible for the Muslims to secure majority status in more areas than in 1921, but by the same process the extent of area that came under the GS areas with a Muslim majority has also shrunk as the new GS areas were smaller in size.

Thus, the Anuradhapura District remained unchanged with respect of its sub district pattern of ethnic distribution during the 50 year period from 1921 to 1971. Although there had been significant increases in the number of people, it did not affect the distribution pattern in any substantial manner during this period.