Despite the two large native languages on the island, English is the most commonly taught second language as both native Sinhala and Tamil speakers often learn English and use it as a means of communication between themselves. English is also the most common language of communication in the government.
Religion
Just over two thirds of Sri Lanka's population, including most of the Sinhalese, is Buddhist. The rest of the people are nearly evenly divided into Muslims, Hindis, Christians, and adherents of other, unspecified religions.
Buddhism is a religion or philosophy that encourages people to strive for enlightenment. Adherents believe that each being is reborn until enlightenment is reached, at which time they escape the cycle of birth and death. To accomplish this, every being must speak, act, and live in a positive manner; this is magnified with the force of karma, which dictates an individual's later life and/or their rebirth.