Calypso-style baila is a genre of Sri Lankan music

Music of Sri Lanka

The music of Sri Lanka originates in cultural traditions deriving from three influences: the religious practices of Buddhism, the aftereffects of Portuguese colonization, and the commercial and historical influence of Indian culture - specifically, Bollywood cinema...

. It grew out of Sri Lankan musicians' fascination with the music of the Caribbean

Caribbean

The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...

 in the 1960s, particularly Harry Belafonte

Harry Belafonte

Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...

 and calypso music

Calypso music

Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...

. Sri Lankan groups such as Los Cabelleros led by Neville Fernando ( first ever Sinhal pop group), Las Bambas, The Humming Birds, Los Muchachos, and The Moonstones

The Moonstones

The Moonstones was an influential Sri Lankan band, led by Clarence Wijewardene and Annesley Malewana. Originating in Ratnapura, the group was one of the most popular Sri Lankan bands during the 1960s.-Formation:...

 (whose members included Annesly Malewana and Clarence Wijewardane

Clarence Wijewardane

Clarence Wijewardana was a Sri Lankan musician who pioneered the use of electric guitar in Sinhala music. He is said to have revolutionized Sri Lankan music in the 1960s and is often named as the father of Sri Lankan pop music - having influenced performers in ranging from W D Amaradewa, Premasiri...

) practiced this music, which melded Caribbean rhythms to traditional Sri Lankan baila

Baila

Baila is a form of dance music popular on the island of Sri Lanka. The genre originated centuries ago among the 'kaffir' or Afro-Sinhalese communities and was later amalgamated with European instruments and eastern and western rhythms, especially rhythms found in Spain and northern European folk...

music.