People group profile · PG006435
The Malays of Sri Lanka
The Malays of Sri Lanka, numbering about 73,500 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a Southeast Asian community descended from soldiers, exiles, settlers, and their families from the Malay Archipelago that preserves a distinct Malay heritage within Sri Lanka's multicultural society.
They are a diaspora people in the Malay people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Sri Lankan Creole Malay.
Fast facts
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Population
- 73,500
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Malay
- Primary language
- Sri Lankan Creole Malay (sci)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Malays are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Malays
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Sunni Islam · Islam
99% adherents
Primary language
Sri Lankan Creole Malay · Austronesian family
78% speak Sri Lankan Creole Malay
Gospel resources in Sri Lankan Creole Malay
- Bible not available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Malays
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
Malay in other countries
The same people (ROP3 106144) is reported in 9 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malays | Malaysia | 13,670,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Malays | Singapore | 745,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Malays | United Kingdom | 56,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Malays | Myanmar | 27,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Malays | Australia | 21,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Malays | Canada | 11,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Malays | United States | 10,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Malays | Comoros | 1,100 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Malays | Mayotte | 325 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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