Sri Lankan Canadians

Sri Lankan Canadians
Total population
136,240
(by place of birth, 2021 Census)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Religion
Related ethnic groups

Sri Lankan Canadians refers to people from Sri Lanka who have arrived and settled in Canada. Among these immigrants include members from the Tamil, Moor, Malay, Sinhalese and Burgher ethnicities. According to the 2021 census there are 136,240 Sri Lankan-born persons in Canada.[2]

Demography

Sri Lankan Canadian demography by religion
Religious group 2021[3][a] 2001[4][b]
Pop. % Pop. %
Hinduism 74,910 51.85% 39,090 63.75%
Christianity 34,550 23.91% 15,350 25.03%
Buddhism 19,050 13.18% 3,440 5.61%
Irreligion 10,220 7.07% 1,715 2.8%
Islam 5,425 3.75% 1,470 2.4%
Judaism 60 0.04% 55 0.09%
Sikhism 55 0.04% 40 0.07%
Indigenous spirituality 0 0% 0 0%
Other 225 0.16% 145 0.24%
Total Sri Lankan Canadian population 144,485 100% 61,315 100%

Geographical distribution

Sri Lankan Canadians are concentrated in the cities of Toronto and Montreal. According to the 2001 census, there are 62,000 Canadians who claim Sri Lankan ancestry, but only 10,000 claimed to be of Sinhalese ancestry.[5] The number may not be an actual representation because many Tamil Canadians from Sri Lanka classify themselves as Tamil rather than Sri Lankan due to history of the Sri Lankan Civil War.

Provinces & territories

The Sri Lankan Canadian Population according to Statistics Canada in the 2006 census in the 10 Canadian Provinces and 3 territories:[6]

Province Sri Lankans
Ontario 85,935[7]
Quebec 10,750[8]
British Columbia 4,150[9]
Alberta 1,740[10]
Manitoba 445[11]
Saskatchewan 240[12]
Nova Scotia 155[13]
Newfoundland and Labrador 115[14]
New Brunswick 45[15]
Yukon 25[16]
Northwest Territories 10[17]
Nunavut 10[14]
Prince Edward Island 0[18]
Canada 103,625

Dual citizenship

Some Sri Lankan Canadians hold citizenship in both Canada and Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan government encourage Sri Lankan expatriates to obtain the citizenship of their country of birth[19] at a fee and to return to Sri Lanka at a future date. There is a drive to attract the educated Sri Lankan immigrants in Canada for new opportunities arising in the government sector of Sri Lanka (such as universities, research institutes etc.),[20] which may sometime require the applicants to be Sri Lankan citizens.

Notable Sri Lankan Canadians

Famous Sri Lankan Canadians include Michael Ondaatje and his financier brother Christopher Ondaatje; Principal Research scientist at the National Research Council of Canada Chandre Dharma-wardana; Academic Engineer Indira Samarasekera, musician Nirmala Basnayake, formerly of the band controller.controller; news anchor Anne-Marie Mediwake; anchor novelist Shyam Selvadurai; cricketers Sanjayan Thuraisingam, film Actor, producer and multiple Guinness World Record-holder Suresh Joachim; and Pubudu Dassanayake.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Religious breakdown proportions based on "Sri Lankan" and "Sinhalese" ethnic or cultural origin responses on the 2021 census.[3]
  2. ^ Religious breakdown proportions based on "Sri Lankan" and "Sinhalese" ethnic or cultural origin responses on the 2001 census.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Selected places of birth for the immigrant population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Selected places of birth for the immigrant population". 2021 Census. StatsCan. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2023-05-10). "Religion by ethnic or cultural origins: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  4. ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-12-23). "2001 Census Topic-based tabulations Selected Demographic and Cultural Characteristics (105), Selected Ethnic Groups (100), Age Groups (6), Sex (3) and Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3) for Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories and Census Metropolitan Areas, 2001 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  5. ^ "File not found - Fichier non trouvé". 12.statcan.ca. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  6. ^ Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables (choose desired city in the left column and look under the term "Sri Lankan" in the chart)
  7. ^ "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census". www12.statcan.ca. Archived from the original on 21 September 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census". Archived from the original on 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  9. ^ "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census". Archived from the original on 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  10. ^ "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census". Archived from the original on 2009-09-03. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  11. ^ "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census". Archived from the original on 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  12. ^ "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census". Archived from the original on 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  13. ^ "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census". Archived from the original on 2009-09-03. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  14. ^ a b "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census". www12.statcan.ca. Archived from the original on 2 September 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census". Archived from the original on 2009-09-21. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  16. ^ "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census". Archived from the original on 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  17. ^ "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census". Archived from the original on 2009-09-03. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  18. ^ "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census". Archived from the original on 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  19. ^ "...:::...Department of Immigration and Emigration...:::..." Immigration.gov.lk. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  20. ^ "::: Welcome to Science & Technology Management Information System @ NSF". Mis.nsf.ac.lk. Archived from the original on 2010-04-07. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
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