People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Sri Lankan, Sinhalese of North America


People Group Info

Total Population: 156,415

ROP3 Code: 109305
IMB Affinity Group: South Asian Peoples
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
People Cluster: Sinhala
Language: Sinhala - (sin)
Religion: Buddhism
Country of Origin: Sri Lanka

Photo courtesy of Joshua Project. By Sally Cawthra, London, England

Majority Located Where

  Toronto (Mississauga, Brampton), ON - 15,000

  New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY - 7,500

  Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA - 3,500

  Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX - 1,500

  Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX - 175

Click here to recommend other locations where this People Group resides.

Brief Profile

The Sri Lankan Sinhalese speak Sinhalese, which is known as Sinhala, as their native language and constitute about 75% of the Sri Lankan population.

Several generations of Sinhalese have migrated to Europe. The majority fled as refugees in the 1980s, escaping the violent civil conflict in Sri Lanka. They reside in a majority of North America.

Prayer Points

  • Pray that evangelical Christians will naturally share their faith in word and deed by becoming friends with the Sinhalese speaking diaspora.
  • Pray that God will work through dreams and other means to reveal Jesus Christ as the true Messiah for the Sinhalese speaking diaspora.
  • Pray God will break down barriers that prevent Sinhalese speaking diaspora from understanding and receiving the message of Jesus Christ.


Learning Resources

Learn more about "Learning Paths"
Online Courses for embracing, encountering and engaging diaspora people. Work at your own pace. Begin anytime and complete the course according to your schedule. Interactive, Hands-On Application.

Learn more about "Reaching the Nations"
This book delineates five disciplines Christians should develop in order to effectively reach the nations. More specifically, it will guide Christians to develop an engagement strategy in their locale.

World Religions - Beliefs Overview
An overview of major world religions and cults - their beliefs and practices.


Other Resources

Know God in 98 Languages
A CRU resource with 9 different witnessing models (e.g. 4 Spiritual Laws, etc.) in 98 languages.

Prayer Guide for Unreached Peoples
A 30 day guide to pray for unreached people groups.

Prayer Guide using the GOSPELS acronym
A prayer guide that utilizes the acronym GOSPELS to pray for workers among diaspora.

Displaying 1-8 of 8 results.
Country City Metro Area Name State / Prov. Baseline Population
United StatesTylerLongview-TylerTX122
United StatesLittle RockLittle Rock-North Little Rock-ConwayAR100
United StatesResedaLos Angeles-Long Beach-AnaheimCA3,500
United StatesFlower MoundDallas-Fort Worth-ArlingtonTX175
United StatesLouisvilleLouisville/Jefferson CountyKY50
United StatesStaten IslandNew York-Newark-Jersey CityNY7,500
United StatesHouston, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar LandTX1,500
CanadaTorontoToronto (Mississauga, Brampton)ON15,000