The Karaiyars in Northern Sri Lanka are classified into two groups: the "Meelongi" and the "Keelongi". The Melongi Karaiyars are some areas known as "Thevar Karaiya"r and "Kurukula Karaiyar", who were descendants of commanders, while Keelongi Karaiyars were descendants of the army's soldiers and workers. The Karaiyars in Eastern Sri Lanka like other castes are divided into "kudi's" or matrilineal clans. The Eastern Karaiyars almost exclusively also use the term "Vaiyittu Var" (Tamil for "womb-tie") as a synonymous term for "kudi" or clan.