Wahumpura in Sri Lanka

The Wahumpura 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

The Wahumpura or Dewa are a Sinhalese tribe. The Sinhalese are the dominant ethnic group in Sri Lanka (formerly, Ceylon), an island off the southeastern coast of India. Composing about three-fourths of the population, they live mainly in the central and southwestern portions of the island. The Sinhalese have lived in Sri Lanka for more than 2,000 years. They were ruled by various European powers for over 400 years until Sri Lanka was granted independence from Great Britain in 1948. Since that time, they have been engaged in nearly constant conflict with the Tamil minority, who have called for an independent state on the north side of the island.

The Sinhalese are divided into two major groups. The first group is the mountain-dwelling Kandyan Sinhalese, who are known as a more traditional, conservative people. The second is the Low Country Sinhalese, who live in the coastal lowlands and are more cosmopolitan and progressive. The Sinhalese speak an Indo-European language called Sinhala.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Sinhalese follow the Buddhist religion, but because of Sri Lanka's proximity to India, the people are also heavily influenced by the Hindu caste system. Castes are ranked social classes that are based upon birth and occupation. For example, farmers have their own caste, fishermen have another caste, and priests have yet another caste. At birth, individuals are automatically included in their parents' caste and are required to marry within that caste. Members of a highly ranked caste generally attempt to avoid contact with members of lower castes, for fear of being spiritually polluted by them.

The largest caste among the Sinhalese is the farming caste, whose members number about one-half of the total Sinhalese population. The great majority of the farmers grow rice. Coconut, manioc, tomatoes, potatoes, and onions are also cultivated. In addition, marijuana is sometimes grown as a cash crop. Virtually no modern tools are used in agriculture; consequently, almost all farm work is done by hand or with hand tools. Most farming families also keep animals such as cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, chickens, and pigs.

Almost all Sinhalese marriages are monogamous, composed of one man and one woman. However, a wealthy man may occasionally have more than one wife. Traditionally, there was no ceremony associated with marriage; a man and a woman simply started living together with their parents' consent. Today, however, that type of marriage is rare, and most couples hold a ceremony and sign a marriage license.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the Sinhalese belong to the Theravada branch of the Buddhist religion. Although the Sinhalese adhere to basic Buddhist teachings, they follow many Hindu beliefs as well. For example, Buddhism is unconcerned with the Hindu pantheon of millions of gods, but the Sinhalese worship Hindu deities who they believe control daily life. Over time, the people may come to see a formerly popular god as inadequate, and they may change their allegiance to another god. In addition to gods, the Sinhalese believe in demons, whom they must appease through rituals conducted by exorcists.


What Are Their Needs?

Literacy in Sri Lanka is high, and most people have adequate food, shelter, and health care. However, Sri Lanka remains one of the poorest of the South Asian nations as a result of the low industrial growth rate. In addition, the nation has been torn apart in recent years by civil war between the Sinhalese and the Tamil minority who seek independence.

Even more overwhelming than the physical needs of the Sinhalese are their spiritual needs. Although a few Sinhalese converted to Christianity during the colonial period, most of them still have no real understanding of the Gospel message. Fervent intercession, evangelistic materials, and increased missionary efforts are all greatly needed if the Sinhalese are to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Thank the Lord for the end to the long-standing civil war in Sri Lanka.
Ask the Lord of the harvest to send missionaries who can witness to the Sinhalese in culturally relevant ways.
Ask the Lord to soften the hearts of the Sinhalese so they will be receptive to the Gospel.
Pray that God will use the few Sinhalese believers to share the love of Christ with their own people.
Ask God to raise up a mighty army of prayer warriors who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
Pray that strong local churches will be raised up among the Sinhalese.


Scripture Prayers for the Wahumpura in Sri Lanka.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

People Name General Wahumpura
People Name in Country Wahumpura
Alternate Names Deva; वहुमपुरा
Population this Country 8,384,000
Population all Countries 8,384,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 21451
ROP3 Code 118268
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
2,517,000
North Western
1,210,000
Southern
1,188,000
Sabaragamuwa
979,000
Central
951,000
North Central
687,000
Uva
622,000
Eastern
211,000
Northern
19,000
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 9
  Western 2,517,000
  North Western 1,210,000
  Southern 1,188,000
  Sabaragamuwa 979,000
  Central 951,000
  North Central 687,000
  Uva 622,000
  Eastern 211,000
  Northern 19,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
92.99 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
7.01 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
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 Sinhala (8,384,000 speakers)
Language Code sin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Sinhala (8,384,000 speakers)
Language Code sin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Sinhala

Primary Language:  Sinhala

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1739-1966)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1776-1991)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1823-2009)
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
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Sinhala Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime 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 South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sinhala YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sinhala Contemporary Version (with NIV) Biblica
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Sinhala YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Sinhala Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Brett Davies - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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