The Sinhalese are an ethnic group forming the majority in Sri Lanka; constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population. They number approximately 15 million in the world. They live mainly in central; south and west Sri Lanka. According to legend they are the descendants of the exiled Prince Vijaya who arrived from North-East India to Sri Lanka in 543 BCE. The Sinhalese identity is based on language; heritage and religion. The vast majority of Sinhalese are Theravada Buddhists and speak Sinhala; an Indo-European language belonging to the sub group of Indo-Aryan languages of the Indo-Iranian branch.