"Lak-vaesiyaa" in Sinhala means an inhabitant of the island of Lanka. "Lak-diva" in E'lu (old Sinhala) means the island of Lanka. Another traditional Sinhala name for Sri Lanka was "Lakdiva", with "diva" also meaning "island". A further traditional name is "Lakbima". "Lak" in both cases is derived again from "Lanka". The same name could have been adopted in Tamil as "Ilankai;" the Tamil language commonly adds "i" before initial "l".The Sanskrit epic "Ramayana" mentioned it "Lanka" and the abode of King Ravan.