| Sri
Lanka Religions in Brief |
Buddhism, is the prevailing religious faith, which
was introduced into Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC.
As practiced in Sri Lanka, Buddhism exhibits elements
of both the Hindu and Islamic traditions.
About 69 percent of the population is Buddhist, 15
percent is Hindu, 8 percent is Christian, and 8 percent
is Muslim.
Religions:
Buddhist 70%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 7% (1999).
| Population
by Religion according to District and Sector (Provisional) 2001 Census. |
| District
and Sector |
Buddhist |
Hindu |
Islam |
Total
no. of Persons |
Colombo
Gampaha
Kalutara
Kandy
Matale
Nuwara Eliya
Galle
Matara
Hambantota
Ampara
Trincomalee
Kurunegala
Puttalam
Anuradhapura
Polonnaruwa
Badulla
Moneragala
Ratnapura
Kegalle |
2,234,146
2,066,096
1,060,800
1,272,463
442,427
700,083
990,539
761,236
525,370
589,344
*
1,452,369
705,342
746,466
359,197
774,555
396,173
1,008,164
779,774 |
1,573,329
1,479,246
890,453
930,644
349,889
276,427
931,656
715,883
508,922
589,344
*
1,452,369
705,342
746,466
359,197
774,555
396,173
1,008,164
779,774 |
196,238
42,575
35,966
135,708
42,893
359,336
15,356
17,902
1,427
231,101
*
1,291,654
304,009
672,223
320,675
554,810
373,989
871,300
660,494 |
243,278
94,325
94,865
173,837
39,993
20,000
35,870
22,730
13,100
101,609
*
14,022
30,395
4,363
6,697
160,147
11,916
99,587
52,883 |
| Total |
12,936,704 |
1,329,020 |
1,431,044 |
16,864,544 |
Sprituality Buddhism,
Hinduism, Christianity and Islam
are practised in Sri Lanka. Religion, particularly
Buddhism and Hinduism, influences political, cultural
and social life.
Sri Lanka is an important world centre of Buddhist
learning and culture. Approximately 70% of the population-mostly
Sinhalese-practise Buddhism, which arose in India
over 2,500 years ago. Buddhism is based on the life
of Siddartha Gautama, the Buddha, who attained boddhi
sattwa or a state of nirvana. The faith is centered
not on a specific deity, but on a code of conduct
propounded by Buddha.
In essence, Buddhism states that life is suffering
(dukkha) and that all suffering comes from desire,
which can be eliminated. Followers work to end desire
by following the Eight-fold Path, in which one cultivates
love, compassion, meditation and freedom from attachment
to material things. Like Hindus, Buddhists believe
in reincarnation. Buddhists aim to attain nirvana
or inner peace. Although Buddhism does not recognize
the caste system, a blurring between religions in
Sri Lanka has meant that most Buddhists do identify
with a caste.
| District
and Sector |
Roman
Catholic |
Other
Christian |
Other |
Total
no. of Persons |
Colombo
Gampaha
Kalutara
Kandy
Matale
Nuwara Eliya
Galle
Matara
Hambantota
Ampara
Trincomalee
Kurunegala
Puttalam
Anuradhapura
Polonnaruwa
Badulla
Moneragala
Ratnapura
Kegalle |
173,555
420,791
34,827
22,345
8,102
32,919
4,304
2,747
882
94
*
39,973
230,336
6,255
3,600
12,353
1,482
10,643
8,889 |
43,986
27,913
4,298
9,336
1,466
10,649
3,050
1,870
955
5
*
6,719
6,677
1,943
561
4,530
609
4,507
4,487 |
3,760
1,246
391
593
84
752
303
104
84
1
*
324
228
130
163
216
32
309
149 |
243,278
94,325
94,865
173,837
39,993
20,000
35,870
22,730
13,100
101,609
*
14,022
30,395
4,363
6,697
160,147
11,916
99,587
52,883 |
| Total |
12,936,704 |
1,329,020 |
1,431,044 |
16,864,544 |
Hinduism,
practised by most Tamils, is an older religion than
Buddhism. Central to Hinduism is Brahman, the eternal
and infinite source for everything, and to which all
returns. While Hinduism has many deities (including
Ganesh, Shiva, Vishnu, Parvati and Kali), these are
really aspects of Brahman. Three important concepts
in Hinduism are samsara, the belief that all living
things die and reincarnate; karma, the belief that
actions determine the status of the soul in its next
incarnation); and dharma, which concerns one's caste
or social class. However, modern Sri Lankan Hinduism
places little emphasis on caste.
All Sri Lankans regard Adam's Peak in the Hill Country
as a spiritual place. The Hindus believe that the
stone footprint on the peak belongs to Lord Shiva.
Buddhists say the peak was visited by Lord Buddha
himself, while Muslims believe it was the place where
Adam first set foot on earth. Roman Catholics say
the footprint belongs to St. Thomas, who preached
in south India. Colonists introduced Christianity
to Sri Lanka in the 16th century, yet attempts at
conversion led mostly to the strengthening of Buddhism;
Christians remain a small minority. Sri Lanka's Muslims
are descendants of Arab traders, Malay fishermen,
or people who converted to Islam to escape the caste
system. Muslim men attend places of worship called
mosques.
|
|
