Sinhalese in Australia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Australia is the home of the largest groups of Sri Lankans away from their own country. The Sinhalese are the largest ethnic group in Sri Lankan. The first Sinhalese people from Sri Lanka came in 1870 to work in Queensland on the sugar cane plantations. After the middle of the 1970s, large numbers arrived including Christians and Buddhists. During the 1970s immigration restrictions were eased and after 1973 and from the early 1980s, Sinhalese and other Sri Lankan migration began again and increased. In the 1980s there were problems between the Sri Lankans in Australia related to domestic troubles in Sri Lanka between the Sinhalese and Tamils. Many of the Sinhalese arrived in Australia with very little. They live primarily in Melbourne, but one can also find them in other Australian cities.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Sinhalese people in Australia can be common workers, but most have white collar jobs. They are often professionals, clerical workers, technical experts, or managers. They speak Sinhala at home and English in the workplace. They like to travel. The Sinhalese formed their own community organizations in Australia to preserve their traditions and culture. Sinhalese people often have strong friendships with other Buddhists from Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Sinhalese in Australia are Theravada Buddhists and a small number of them are Christians There are Theravada Buddhist temples in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia. Theravada Buddhism is nearer to early Buddhism than other forms of Buddhism are.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to provide for their physical and spiritual needs as a testimony of his power and love. Pray that the Sinhalese people in Australia will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings. Pray for workers who are driven by the love and boldness of the Holy Spirit to go to them. Pray for a movement to Christ among them in Australia.


Scripture Prayers for the Sinhalese in Australia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Sinhalese
People Name in Country Sinhalese
Pronunciation sin-uh-LEEZE
Population this Country 70,000
Population all Countries 396,000
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 Australia
Region Australia and Pacific
Continent Australia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Australia
Region Australia and Pacific
Continent Australia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked

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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 %
Primary Language Sinhala (70,000 speakers)
Language Code sin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Sinhala (70,000 speakers)
Language Code sin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Sinhala
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2023  The Road Provides - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Joshua Project  
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Read more