What are the main religions in Sri Lanka?
Hi, talking about religion in Sri Lanka, it's quite an interesting topic. If you travel there, you'll immediately feel the strong religious atmosphere, with various temples, churches, and mosques visible everywhere, making it incredibly diverse.
Simply put, there are four main religions, and I'll tell you about them in order from most to least followers:
1. Buddhism
This is Sri Lanka's "state religion" and also the most important religion, with over 70% of locals being Buddhists, primarily from the majority ethnic group – the Sinhalese. They practice Theravada Buddhism, which you can understand as an earlier and more traditional school of Buddhism, differing somewhat from the Mahayana Buddhism commonly seen in China.
- What you'll see when traveling: White stupas scattered across the country, giant Bodhi trees, monks in orange robes, and world-class Buddhist holy sites like the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy and the Dambulla Cave Temple. It's fair to say that Buddhist culture is the soul of travel in Sri Lanka.
2. Hinduism
This is the second-largest religion, practiced by about 12% of the population, mainly Tamils. Because Sri Lanka and India are separated only by a strait, the influence of Hinduism is very profound, especially in the northern and eastern regions, as well as the central tea plantation areas (where many tea workers are descendants of Tamils).
- What you'll see when traveling: Hindu temples (Kovil) with a completely different style from Buddhist temples. These temples are usually super colorful, with roofs intricately carved with dense, lifelike statues of various deities, creating a very strong visual impact.
3. Islam
Third is Islam, with followers making up about 10% of the total population. They are mainly the local Muslim community (also known as Moors).
- What you'll see when traveling: Mosques in many towns, and at fixed times each day, you can hear the melodious call to prayer emanating from the minarets.
4. Christianity
Finally, there's Christianity, with followers making up about 7%, most of whom are Catholics. This is mainly due to Sri Lanka's modern history of colonization by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British.
- What you'll see when traveling: On the west coast, in cities like Negombo, you'll see a great many churches, so densely packed that you might feel as if you're in a small European town. Many of these churches have long histories and distinctive architectural styles.
Overall, Sri Lanka is a country where these four religious cultures intertwine, collectively shaping the lives and culture of its people. So, when you travel there, be sure to respect local religious customs, such as removing your shoes when entering temples and dressing modestly (covering shoulders and knees). This will help you better integrate into the local culture and more deeply appreciate its unique charm.