Rodi or Rodiya are reported to be an untouchable social group or caste amongst the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka. Their status was very similar to all the Untouchable castes of India with segregated communities, ritualised begging, economically weakest section of the society. History The various stories on the origin of the Rodi caste are contradictory and therefore far from certain. However, stories about their origin have been passed down orally by their generations. These folklore suggest their origin begins from the Sinhalese royalty. They believe they descended from the daughter of King Parakramabahu named Ratnavalli (also known as Navaratna Valli). Some of these stories are found in published documents as well. According to the Janawanshaya, a palm leaf record written in the 15th century that explains the caste hierarchy in Sri Lanka, Rodis were not considered to be purely a low caste group. According to Kandyan law, the worst punishment for high caste nobles was the exiling them to the Rodi caste. Robert Knox (sailor) and Hugh Nevill are two of the prominent writers who have mentioned the Rodi Caste in their writings. Although these folklore tales do not provide many facts about the origins of the Rodi, they trace a connection between the daughter of King Parakramabahu and a Vedda with hunting, human sacrifice and cannibalism. See also Rodiya language References Further reading Boyle, Richard (1928). Ratnavalli's Children, Myth and Mystery of the Rodi Raghavan, M. D. (1957). Handsome Beggars, The Rodiyas of Ceylon External links Ethnic Groups in Sri lanka - Rodiya The Rodiya: Outcaste people of Sri Lanka The Status of Nihali (On Nihali) The story of the Rodi: Sri Lanka's 'untouchables' Sinhalese castes