Evidence of restricted maternal gene flow of Purana (old) Population in the suburbs of Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

A genetic study of the Purana population, residing in the suburbs of Sigiriya, Sri Lanka, reveals restricted maternal gene flow between them and other present-day Sri Lankans. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 46 individuals showed a higher genetic dissimilarity (2.81%) when comparing the Purana to modern Sri Lankans than when grouped by ethnicity, indicating maternal isolation since at least 1,450 years ago. Phylogenetic analysis further suggests that the Purana are maternally more closely related to Sri Lankan Tamils than to other Sri Lankan groups. This finding supports historical records linking the Purana's ancestry to the Sinhalese Kings of the 5th century A.D., providing genetic evidence for their distinct maternal lineage.

Chandimal, K. M., Yasawrdene, S. G., & Illeperuma, R. J. (2019). Evidence of restricted maternal gene flow of Purana (old) Population in the suburbs of Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Anatomy Journal, 3(2), 42–54. https://doi.org/10.4038/slaj.v3i2.61