Sri Lanka is a multi-religious society. Though
Buddhism is the major religion, other religions such as Hinduism,
Christianity and Islam are also followed.
About 70% of the population follows Buddhism. Buddhism came to Sri
Lanka from India during the reign of Ashoka in third century BC and
played a significant role in the establishment of Sinhalese kingdoms
since the early times, dating back to over two thousands years.
Buddhism was regarded the highest ethical and philosophical
expression of Sinhalese culture and civilization.
Hinduism is mainly practised by Tamils in Srilanka who ethnically
belong to South India where Hinduism was predominantly practiced.
Around the fifth and the sixth century A.D., the Chola dynasty of
South India usurped the throne of the Sinhalese Kingdom and
conquered the island, leading to the considerable number of
immigrants from South India into the northern Sri Lanka. Thus
Hinduism was introduced in Sri Lanka and during the reign of Tamil
kings, Hindu shrines were widely constructed. Major Hindu Gods that
are worshipped in Sri Lanka are Vishnu, Shiva, Kali, Ganesha and
Skanda.
Muslims comprise nearly 7% of Sri Lanka's population. In ancient
times Arab traders from the Middle East visited the southern part of
Sri Lanka for their business and later settled in the island. The
Muslim community in Sri Lanka attained dominant growth by 10th
century A.D.
Christianity first came to Sri Lanka upon the arrival of the
Portuguese in the sixteenth century. Under their rule, Roman
Catholicism was spread out in a mass scale of the Island with many
Roman Catholic schools for the Sinhalese and the Tamils.
With the attempts of the Portuguese to Christianize native people,
Buddhism and Hinduism were severely affected. There were an
increasing number of both Sinhalese and Tamils converting to Roman
Catholicism. When the Portuguese were driven out by the Dutch,
Protestantism and the Dutch Reformed Church was introduced.
During the British rule conversions to Christianity increased. Later
on due to the nationalism movement among the Sinhalese who held sway
the political power; Christianity in Sri Lanka was somewhat
restricted.
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