| Caste Name: | Thimilar |
| Languages: | Tamil |
| Religions: | Christianity, Hinduism |
| Related: | Tamils, Sri Lankan Tamils |
Thimilar (Tamil: திமிலர்) is a Sri Lankan Tamil caste found in the northern and eastern coastal areas of Sri Lanka, and globally among the Tamil diaspora. They are traditional artisanal fishers primarily engaged in shallow-water fishing.[1] [2] In Eastern Sri Lanka are they also involved in cattle cultivation.[3]
Historically, they have also been known as Sindhu nāttar (people of Sindh), following their own myth origins.[4]
The word Thimilar is derived from the word thimil, a Tamil word for boat, and the honorific suffix -ar, thus Thimilar is literally translated as Boatmen.[5] The Akanaṉūṟu of the Sangam literature, mentions Thimilan, as a boat using fisherman.[6]
The Vaiyapadal mentions the Sindhu Natar, a name of the Thimilar, as one of the communities inhabiting the Jaffna Peninsula.[7] They are mentioned in the Mattakallappu Manmiyam as one of the fishing tribes living in the eastern part of Sri Lanka, who lost a battle to the Mukkuvar who were in alliance with the Pathans.[8] Place names in the Batticaloa region are derived from the battle such as Sathurukondan (meaning "were enemy was killed", referring to the execution of the Thimilar chief) and Pathiyai-thookia-palai (where the Thimilar chieftess was hanged).[9]