Controversial Buddhist monk surrenders to court in Sri Lanka: 06/21/2017 Maldives, Tourist Haven, Casts Wary Eye on Growing Islamic Radicalism: 06/18/2017 Sri Lanka arrests five over anti-religious violence: 06/12/2017 Hardline Buddhists in Myanmar, Sri Lanka strike anti-Islamist pact: 10/30/2014 This civilization was further enriched by the influences of Hinduism and Islam. Sri Lanka Religions – Which Religion Sri Lankan People Believe. During Colonial times, Sri Lanka had many Christian priests come down here. Dec 14, 2006 @ 8:08 am. Source: The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050. Types Of Crimes By Number Of Offenses In The US, The 10 Biggest Shopping Malls In The World. 1.3% of the general population in Sri Lanka are Protestants who were mainly converted by the Dutch after the departure of the Portuguese. The country’s age-long history has a very close and important connection with Buddhism. 2. Home » Sri Lanka Religions – Which Religion Sri Lankan People Believe. The most prominent feature of the Sri Lankan is its colourful festivals , which is one of the main tourist attractions. Christianity makes up 8% of Sri Lanka’s population. Christians make up only 6 percent of the population of Sri Lanka, which is still emerging from the shadow of a harrowing civil war between the Sinhalese Buddhist majority and … Required fields are marked *. The Dutch people introduced Christianity before the arrival of the Portuguese who consequently left unforgettable legacy with most of the Christians being Catholics. Devotees of Lord Shiva across the country celebrate padmarajarathri (the great night … Tamil-speaking Hindus agitated for greater autonomy. 70.19%. Your email address will not be published. As … Population density is highest in western Sri Lanka, especially in and around the capital. Christianity makes up 8% of Sri Lanka’s population. According to the census conducted in 2012, 0.1% of the general population do not believe in any religion hence could be considered atheists.Thus, only a very small percentage of Sri Lankans are non-believers. They are put under pressure to recant Christianity. Islam in the country started to grow in the 7th century with the arrival of Arab traders who by the 8th century had taken control of the Indian Ocean and the Middle East trading routes. Buddism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. Hinduism . Kandy, Sri Lanka: Dalada Maligava. Wars between the Portuguese the Dutch Europeans and the natives of the country continued, and the missionaries won which resulted in the popularization of Christianity while Buddhists were discriminated against. There are four major Religions in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan culture includes a lot of customs and rituals, whish date to more than 2000 years which were handed down from generation to generation. Most are Catholics. There are also small ethnic group… During the 16th century, many of their Muslim descendants persecuted by the Portuguese. Religion, Politics, and Violence in Sri Lanka, 1992. Religion . 1. When a woman of any religion marries a Muslim, she must convert to Islam and is identified as Muslim. 10 Countries Where Women Far Outnumber Men, The Most Famous Serial Killers In America And Their Twisted Crimes. There is about 8% of Muslims living in Sri Lanka. They now form 9.7% of the entire population. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2021 worldatlas.com. 7.40%. The culture of the Moor community is closely related to that of the other Tamil speakers with some aspects of the Arab culture. It was when King Devanampiya Tissa was ruling the Anuradhapura Kingdom. Under the Portuguese, Roman Catholicism spread out on the Island with many Roman Catholic schools for the Sinhalese and the Tamils. 0.80%. The name is the same as the ancient Tamil name for the Island. Sinhalese constitute the largest ethnic group in the country, with 74.8% of the total population. Il y aurait environ 2 millions de musulmans au Sri Lanka. When the Dutch took over, the Dutch Reformed Church introduced. During this time, a branch of Bodhgaya tree was brought to Sri Lanka. The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka reported several dozen cases of schools refusing students admission on religious grounds during the year, even though the law requires government and private schools receiving government funding, some religiously affiliated, to accept students of all faiths. Hinduism is the second most populous religion which makes up 12.6% of the entire population. In the 16th century, wars erupted with the arri… Sri Lanka’s Protestant community is quite small, constituting only 1% of Sri Lanka’s population. An Indian scholar named Buddhagosa took the initiative in writing the very first Pali canon in Sri Lanka. There is four main religions in Sri Lanka; Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. The Sinhalese are predominantly Buddhist, and thus it is the major religion in the country, followed by Hinduism, which is actively practiced by the Tamils. Religion in Sri Lanka . Sri Lanka was known as Sarandib , Saheelan among these Muslim Traders. Two major theories explain their origin. Mahashivratri. With Dutch traders and governmental officers came Calvinismand Protestant missionaries who worked in Sri Lanka’s coastal areas. Islam . Jainism crossed over to Sri Lanka from South India around 8th Century BC and became one of the most important religions of Lanka. The maps on the right hand side show where, and percent proportion of each religion in Sri Lanka. 3.6 /5. Hinduism is the religion of most Tamils (although a Tamil community in the north of the country is home to Christians) and this religion now accounts for about 12 percent of the Sri Lankan population. This led to the rebuilding of the shrines and the thriving of the religion and culture as well as the development of the center of Western Buddhist scholarship. Brahma regarded as the ultimate source of creation; Shiva also has a creative role alongside his function as a destroyer. While Calvinist Protestantism declined under British colonial rule, there was a revival in the Tamil-speaking northern areas of the island. Vishnu seen as the preserver or protector of the universe. Dalada Maligava (“Temple of the Tooth”), where a tooth of the Buddha is believed to be preserved, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka demographics Population by Immigrants. Buddhism has seen spreading rapidly around the land. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Additionally, Christian churches are frequently targeted by neighbors. How Many Serial Killers Are On The Loose Today? Age & Gender Structure. These are the largest ethnic group in the country ordinarily referred to as Muslims as they are predominant Muslim followers. Another 7.6% are Muslims, particularly the Malay and Moor communities, belonging primarily to the Shafi'i school within Sunni Islam. These Tamils of Hindu descent are majorly located in the northern region of the country as well the country’s commercial capital of Colombo. They reduced by a large number after the arrival of the Portuguese who ruined their settlement as well their trading routes but during the 18th and 19th century Muslims from India and Malaysia who came to Sri Lanka enabled their increase. Ashoka the Great was a patron of Buddhism, and when King Tissa of Ceylon sent an emissary to India, Ashoka seized the opportunity to put in a good word about Buddhism to the King. St. Lucia's Cathedral, Colombo. Moorscomprise 9.2%. He enriched Buddhism in the land by bringing down various monks from around the world. Sri Lankan Airlines – National Flag Barer. Religion plays an important role in molding the Sri Lankan culture and traditions. Many of these traders settled down in Sri Lanka, to spread of Islam. In 1973, they asked for an independent state in their area, to be called Eelam. In 2019, after the suicide bombers attacked Catholic churches and tourists hotels killing 250 people, the bombers had a clear link to the islamic terrorist group known as ISIS. The country’s administrative capital city is the Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte while the commercial capital is the Colombo. The activities of the Muslim traders of Peninsular India in the period of 1000 to 1500 A.D. are closely linked with the origin of the Muslim settlements that we see today in Sri Lanka and the countries of south-east Asia. Section II. Christianity took its first roots in the sixteenth century. St. Lucia’s Cathedral is named after the saint martyr St. Lucia … Religious Affiliation Over Time. Christianity took its first roots in the sixteenth century. SRI LANKA 3 International Religious Freedom Report for 2019 United States Department of State • Office of International Religious Freedom identify as a separate ethnic group, rather than as Tamil or Sinhalese. Buddhism: Theravada Buddhism is the majority religion in Sri Lanka, with about 70% of the country’s population as followers. In the year 1880, The Buddhist Theosophical Society was established by Sir Henry Olcott and Buddhist leaders. The next most popular religion is Christianity, especially among the Burgher population. The origins date back to the 15th century when Arab traders had controlled Sri Lanka’s trade market. Although the government does not recognize Judaism as an official religion, there is a small Jewish population living in different parts of the country. © Dmitry Rukhlenko/Fotolia. Fertility Rate (TFR) Source: The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050. Christianity forms the least number of inhabitants in the country at 6.1%. During the Portuguese rule, several native Tamils were approached to convert to Catholic religion others even going as far as being threatened with death threats. Buddhism was introduced in this island country in the third century, and the kings in the country have played a major role in its maintenance, spread, and revival and in the 19th century a modern revival was held which sought to improve Buddhist education and learning. The American Ceylon Mission began in 1813 … Buddhism came to Sri Lanka from India during the reign of Ashoka in third century BC and played a significant role in the establishment of Sinhalese kingdoms since the early times, dating back to over … Almost 70% of the population are Theravada Buddhists (mainly the ethnic Sinhalese), while most Tamils are Hindu, representing 15% of Sri Lankans. By 1940, there over 400 Buddhist schools established around the country. 9.70%. Sri Lanka is a multi-religious society. Sri Lankan … When foreign armies attacked Sri Lanka, Buddhism took a big hit during the era from the 5th century to the 11th century. What Are The Major Natural Resources Of Sri Lanka? … Buddhist and Hindu temples, as well as mosques and churches, with their own colourful rituals, are the most readily visible features of the cultural landscape. This site is awsome it shows alot of interesting facts! They have just got out of a civil war. 3. Sri Lanka is one of the few countries with a very vast and rich cultural diversity. Like Catholicism, it was through colonialism that Protestant Christianity gained a foothold on the island. Buddhism is the most predominant religion in Sri Lanka and is mainly prevalent in the southern districts of Galle, Matara and Hambantota, and Anuradhapura in central Sri Lanka. Religion in Sri Lanka: Buddhism, Hinduism and Other Major Religions. There are two major denominations of Islam, the Sunni and Shia. Hence they forced to migrate to the Central Highlands and to the east coast. Those who convert to Christianity from a Buddhist or Hindu background are subject to Christian persecution, harassment, and discrimination by family and community. Buddhism was introduced in this island country in the third century, and the kings in the country have played a major role in its maintenance, spread, and revival and in the 19th century a modern revival was held which sought to improve Buddhist education and learning. In business, for example, publicly reprimanding or criticising someone would lead to a loss of face for both parties. SRI LANKA RELIGION z Buddhists: 68,4% z Hindus: 13,2% z Christians: 9,1% z Muslim: 8,6% z Others: 0,7% SRI LANKA 65.610km² 20.811.000 Legal framework on freedom of religion and actual application Although peace has returned to Sri Lanka after decades of a civil war which ended in the Buddhism has been considered the state religion in Sri Lanka as 70.2% of the general population believe in Buddhism. L’islam est une religion qui est apparue au Sri Lanka au VIIIe siècle lorsque les colons arabes arrivèrent sur l’île.