The Sinhalese are the native people of Sri Lanka where they make of 74% of the population. Some of these people left their island during the three decades long Sri Lankan civil war (1983-2009) and settled in India. The name Sinhala comes from the Sanskrit word for lion.
The Sinhalese in India speak their language of Sinhala among themselves. They also speak English that allows them to communicate and work with other educated Indians. The Sinhalese are employed in computer science, business and government jobs.
The Sinhalese of India primarily live in Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Maharashtra and Kerala. Small groups also live in Indian states.
The Sinhalese left Sri Lanka to escaped the violence of the civil war. The war is over but many have decided to remain in India for the economic opportunities that India offers.
The Sinhalese have a rich and ancient culture that those living in India strive to maintain. Their cuisine is rice and curry based with the abundant use of hot spices and coconut milk. The traditional dress for men and women is a sarong although they generally wear western clothes for work. Dance is an important cultural heritage. The Sinhalese have their own type of martial arts called Angampora.
The Sinhalese practice monogamy, marriage to one person. Their marriages involve performing the ceremony on a Poruwa, a raised wooden platform. The groom at the close of the wedding breaks a fresh coconut.
The large majority of the Sinhalese are Theravada Buddhist. Theravada means "doctrine of the elders." It is the more conservative of the two main branches of Buddhism. It is the dominant type of Buddhism practiced in Southeast Asia.
The Buddha or "Enlightened One" taught his disciples the Four Nobel Truths to escape suffering and the Eightfold Path, personal qualities to be developed.
Buddhists visit temples for worship, meditation and prayer. Buddhists make offerings of food, burning incense, candles and flowers.
Buddhists celebrate Vesak or Buddha's birthday in May, Dharma Day in July, Bodhi Day which celebrates the Buddha's enlightenment experience and the Buddhist New Year for three days in April.
A small group of Christian Sinhalese lives in Sri Lanka.
The Sinhalese living in India need to hear and understand the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. They need to realize that they are sinners and in need of the Savior.
* Scripture Prayers for the Sinhalese in India.
Pray the Lord would send Christian workers to befriend and share the gospel with Sinhalese of India
Pray that God creates dissatisfaction with Buddhism and a hunger for spiritual truth among them.
Pray that the Sinhalese Christians in Sri Lanka would reach out to their brothers and sisters in India.
Pray that the Lord would begin and grow a Bible believing church among the Sinhalese of India.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinhalese people
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theravada
Profile Source: David Kugel |
People Name General | Sinhalese |
People Name in Country | Sinhalese |
Pronunciation |
sin-uh-LEEZE
|
Population this Country | 5,100 |
Population all Countries | 481,000 |
Total Countries | 17 |
Indigenous | No |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Cingalese; Singalese; Singhalese; Sinhala; सिनलीज़ |
People ID | 14196 |
ROP3 Code | 109305 |
Country | India | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 16 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
|
|||||||||||||||
Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 16 |
Tamil Nadu 1,800 | |
Delhi 1,100 | |
Maharashtra 1,000 | |
Kerala 400 | |
Gujarat 300 | |
Andaman and Nicobar 100 | |
Andhra Pradesh 90 | |
West Bengal 60 | |
Jharkhand 60 | |
Puducherry 50 | |
Karnataka 50 | |
Himachal Pradesh 40 | |
Uttarakhand 30 | |
Telangana 30 | |
Chhattisgarh 20 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.
Primary Language | Sinhala (5,100 speakers) |
Language Code | sin Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Sinhala (5,100 speakers) |
Language Code | sin Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Sinhala |
Primary Language: Sinhala
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1739-1966) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1776-1991) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1823-2009) |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio |
Film / Video | God's Story video |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Sinhala |
Film / Video | Magdalena video |
Film / Video | My Last Day video, anime |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children |
General | Biblical answers to your questions |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
General | Gospel resources links |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Sinhala |
Text / Printed Matter | Literacy primer for Sinhala |
Text / Printed Matter | Tools for faith conversations |
Text / Printed Matter | Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies |
Primary Religion: | Buddhism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
100.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |