While they constitute less than one percent of Sri Lanka's population, the Rodiya people of Sri Lanka have their own language and their own distinct Buddhist beliefs and practices. Perhaps this is due to their historic exclusion as outcastes; their name is based on a word for filth. Caste is a feature of Sri Lankan society. Although as outcastes they may seek alms, they are generally denied work and once were even denied clothing! Yet work they do, dancing, juggling plates, and making cane handicrafts. With increased urbanization, their lot in life is improving.
As they see it, they are descended from a Sri Lankan princess who was ostracized for cannibalism. They praise her in songs and poems. Her depiction, however, is very much like the Hindu goddess Kali, recipient of human sacrifices, repugnant to Buddhists. Despite these questionable origins, the Rodiyas are beginning to be assimilated into the larger Sri Lankan society.
Only a few believers have sought to minister to these people. Among them were the late Rt. Rev. Ivan Corea, the canon of the Anglican Church of Ceylon, and his wife Ouida. We do not know if that outreach continued after his death in 1968. Today few Rodiyas are followers of Jesus.
* Scripture Prayers for the Rodiya in Sri Lanka.
Pray that God will raise up more godly people like the Coreas, and that God will open the hearts of the Rodiyas to His love so that many will come to faith in Jesus and sing His praises in song and poem.
Profile Source: Global Prayer Digest |
Global Prayer Digest: 2010-09-08 |
People Name General | Rodiya |
People Name in Country | Rodiya |
Population this Country | 18,000 |
Population all Countries | 18,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | रोड़िया |
People ID | 17975 |
ROP3 Code | 113464 |
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 |
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Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | Sri Lanka |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Total States | 6 |
Sabaragamuwa 6,700 | |
North Western 4,500 | |
Uva 3,100 | |
Central 3,000 | |
Southern 300 | |
Western 200 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Sinhala (18,000 speakers) |
Language Code | sin Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Sinhala (18,000 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 Audio | Online |
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 (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Sinhala |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | My Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime) |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
General | God's Simple Plan |
General | Got Questions Ministry |
Mobile App | Download Audio Bible app as APK File from FCBH |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: සිංහල - Sinhala |
Text / Printed Matter | Online Bible text (Scripture Earth) |
Text / Printed Matter | World Missionary Press Booklets |
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 Sri Lanka census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Profile Source | Global Prayer Digest |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |