Javanese in Sri Lanka


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Javanese (Orang Jawa, "people of Java") originate from Central Java, Indonesia. In Sri Lanka, they are blended in with others who speak a Malay-based language. Therefore, they are considered "Malay" by many people. The Javanese have their own language called "Jawa" which is not spoken by the majority peoples in Sri Lanka. The Jawa language is still the language of the Javanese people in Sri Lanka, but they need to converse in either Tamil or Sinhalese, the two dominant languages of that island nation.


Where Are they Located?

Most Javanese live either in their native land, Indonesia or nearby Malaysia, but they are also in other countries, even some in Europe. Though they aren't prevalent in South Asia, there are a small number in Sri Lanka.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They are a hospitable people, usually inviting visitors to share a meal with the family. Families are often quite large, some having between 10 and 17 children. Marriages are grand affairs that sometimes last up to three days. The giving of love gifts to the newlyweds is common. Emphasis is placed on helping one another during weddings rather than receiving large sums of money.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They have been Muslims for centuries, but in the 1960s, they had a revival in Indonesia where many turned to Christ for life's answers. This revival did not affect the Javanese who had migrated to Sri Lanka, so these Javanese remain Muslim. The Javanese have a strong commitment Islam for cultural reasons.

During their Sunni Muslim weddings and circumcision rituals, they perform the jedur (songs of praise to the prophet Mohammed) which is compiled in a book called Silawatan. They also perform the kempling (a type of dance giving praise to Allah) during religious occasions.


What Are Their Needs?

The Javanese in Sri Lanka need the chance to allow Jesus Christ to bless and transform their lives, families and communities.


Prayer Points

Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Javanese people in Sri Lanka for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing their hearts would be open and ready to follow Him.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended Javanese families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Javanese people in Sri Lanka to become fruitful as they follow Christ.
Pray for the lives and culture of the Javanese people to evidence the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God as they open to the gospel, and for the beauty of Jesus to be seen in them.


Scripture Prayers for the Javanese in Sri Lanka.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/17000/CE
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/17000/ID
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Javanese-people
https://www.encyclopedia.com/places/asia/indonesian-political-geography/javanese
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javanese_people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_Malays
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/sri-lankas-malays-and-fight-minority-status-51482
http://www.infolanka.com/org/srilanka/hist/hist20.html


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Javanese
People Name in Country Javanese
Pronunciation jah-vah-NEEZ
Alternate Names Jawa; Orang Jawa; जावेनीस
Population this Country 8,700
Population all Countries 18,673,000
Total Countries 9
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17000
ROP3 Code 112316
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 6
Largest States
Eastern
4,600
Western
2,700
North Western
600
Southern
600
Northern
200
Central
100
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 6
  Eastern 4,600
  Western 2,700
  North Western 600
  Southern 600
  Northern 200
  Central 100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Sri Lanka census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Javanese (8,700 speakers)
Language Code jav   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Javanese (8,700 speakers)
Language Code jav   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Javanese

Primary Language:  Javanese

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1852-1991)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1829-1981)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1854-2017)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, complete Bible DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Javanese Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Javanese YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kitab Suci Masan General / Other
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Javanese YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Javanese Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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