Primanar in Sri Lanka

The Primanar 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 Primanar are a group of Tamil Brahmins who left their homeland in South India to live in the island nation of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka became an independent nation in 1948. Many from the Primanar people were leaders in the Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009) against the Buddhist Sinhalese majority. The Tamil Sri Lankans wanted to establish their own country in the east and north of the island. Thousands of Primanar were killed in the war and others fled as refugees to Europe, Australia, Canada or the USA. Sri Lanka is still rebuilding from the war. Along with thousands of lost lives, the Tamils in Sri Lanka experienced the destruction of their property and livelihoods. As educated Sri Lankans, Primanar people speak Tamil, English and Sinhala.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Brahmin Primanar constitute the highest caste of the Tamil speaking people in Sri Lanka. Before the war they served as Hindu priests and teachers. Many were also landowners. Lower castes worked their land growing rice, coconuts, tea, palm trees, and spices. The Primanar also held high positions in business, technology, education, law, medicine, and science. They are trying to regain their status as wealthy Brahmins. Primanar parents encourage their children to pursue university degrees. Marriage to one spouse is the norm. Young people choose their spouses with the consent of their families. The Primanar marry within their people.


Primanar people left their home in India to settle in Sri Lanka.
What Are Their Beliefs?

The Primanar practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. The Primanar pay special devotion of Shiva, the god of destruction and the arts. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Primanar visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hope of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians do with their heavenly Father. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Primanar people are Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday. A small fraction of the Primanar became Roman Catholics during the colonial period.


What Are Their Needs?

The Primanar must come to understand that Jesus is not just another Hindu god or guru. They need to come to Him with a sense of personal sin. It is difficult for a proud Brahmin to humble himself or herself and trust in Jesus as their only Savior and Lord.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lord uses the hardships and consequences of the Sri Lankan war to bring many Primanar to Himself. Pray the Primanar are able to gain employment and provide for their families. Ask the Lord to raise up a Disciple Making Movement among the Sri Lankan Primanars in this decade. Pray that Tamil believers would be led by the Spirit to tell the Primamar about the spiritual riches of Jesus Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Primanar in Sri Lanka.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Primanar
People Name in Country Primanar
Pronunciation PREE-muh-nar
Alternate Names Brahmin Sri Lankan Tamil; Iyar; Priminar; प्रिमनार
Population this Country 74,000
Population all Countries 74,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 21453
ROP3 Code 118246
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
Northern
33,000
Eastern
18,000
Western
12,000
Central
4,400
Sabaragamuwa
2,600
North Western
2,200
Uva
1,000
Southern
1,000
North Central
400
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 9
  Northern 33,000
  Eastern 18,000
  Western 12,000
  Central 4,400
  Sabaragamuwa 2,600
  North Western 2,200
  Uva 1,000
  Southern 1,000
  North Central 400
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
3.07 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
96.93 %
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 (74,000 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tamil (74,000 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
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Peter van der Sluijs - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
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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