Sri Lanka Chetti in Sri Lanka

The Sri Lanka Chetti have only been reported in Sri Lanka
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

Chetti is a generic South Indian term for merchants and traders. There are Chetti communities in South India, but a different one in nearby Sri Lanka.
Between the 16th and mid 17th century, Chettis settled in the ports of Jaffna, Colombo and Galle in western Sri Lanka. They were mainly from Tamil Nadu, thus their use of the Tamil language today. This was a time when Portuguese and Dutch colonialists were making inroads into Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka Chetti have a subgroup in the northern part of their island nation. That is the Chetty Vellalar, and they are being merged with other Sri Lankan ethnic communities.


What Are Their Lives Like?

It's common for the Sri Lanka Chetti to intermarry with the dominant peoples of Sri Lanka. Between this and their small number, one wonders if they will exist as a separate community in 100 years.
The Sri Lanka Chetti are usually part of the business community. Their children usually get a good education so they can continue their comfortable lifestyle.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though they are devout Hindus, their form of Hinduism has certain elements of Islam and Taoism.
Sri Lankan Chettis are Hindus who are often devoted to either Shiva or Ganesh. Ganesh is a favorite among business communities since Hindus believe he help them overcome obstacles. Those who worship Shiva are joined by many others in this Hindu tradition.


What Are Their Needs?

The Chetti people need to be given the chance to hear the life-changing gospel so they can enjoy life to the full. There are many Christ followers in Sri Lanka and southern India who can introduce them to the only savior.


Prayer Points

Pray for loving gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Chetti people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing the hearts of these people would be open and ready to follow him.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended Chetti families so the gospel will spread rapidly.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Chetti people to become fruitful so others will be drawn to Jesus Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Sri Lanka Chetti in Sri Lanka.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_Chetties
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitty
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chettiar


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Sri Lanka Chetti
People Name in Country Sri Lanka Chetti
Alternate Names श्री लंका चेट्टी
Population this Country 6,400
Population all Countries 6,400
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 20802
ROP3 Code 117309
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 9
Largest States
Western
5,100
North Western
500
Central
200
Eastern
200
Northern
100
Sabaragamuwa
100
Uva
70
Southern
70
North Central
40
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 9
  Western 5,100
  North Western 500
  Central 200
  Eastern 200
  Northern 100
  Sabaragamuwa 100
  Uva 70
  Southern 70
  North Central 40
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Sri Lanka census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tamil (6,400 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tamil (6,400 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tamil

Primary Language:  Tamil

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1714-1956)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1715-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1727-2024)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings General Ministry Resources General / Other
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tamil Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Comprehensive list of Tamil Resources General / Other
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Pastors Study Bible Tamil Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Tamil Bible (தமிழ் பைபிள்) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Tamil Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Tamil Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Tamil Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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