People group profile · PG006432
The Sri Lankan Tamil of Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan Tamil of Sri Lanka, numbering about 2,630,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are descendants of the Jaffna Kingdom that maintained autonomy on the Jaffna Peninsula from the fourteenth century through Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial rule, tracing a Tamil presence on the island back to at least the second century BCE.
They are an indigenous people in the Tamil people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Tamil.
Fast facts
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Population
- 2,630,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Tamil
- Primary language
- Tamil (tam)
- Primary religion
- Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5%
- GSEC
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Marginally Reached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Sri Lankan Tamil are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years Dispersed Church Planting
Next steps for the Sri Lankan Tamil
- Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
- Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
- Send out laborers from this people to the nations
Gospel resources in Tamil
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- Magdalena (Tamil)
- The Savior (Tamil)
Bibles
- Contemporary Version · video
- Contemporary Version - LUMO Christmas Film · video
- Contemporary Version - LUMO Easter Film · video
- Easy-to-Read Version · audio, text
- Indian Revised Version · audio, text
- Indian Revised Version · text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Sri Lankan Tamil
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
Tamil Hindu in other countries
The same people (ROP3 113732) is reported in 13 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamil | Malaysia | 2,615,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Tamil | United States | 339,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tamil | Myanmar | 297,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tamil | Singapore | 244,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tamil | Reunion | 188,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tamil | Canada | 163,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Tamil | France | 126,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Sri Lankan Tamil | United Kingdom | 74,500 | No Longer Unreached |
| Tamil | Germany | 67,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tamil Hindu | Thailand | 35,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Tamil | Netherlands | 7,900 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tamil | Cambodia | 1,800 | No Longer Unreached |
| Tamil | Seychelles | 400 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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