South India, Maldives and Sri Lanka

Pray for multiple streams of church-planting movements all over the cluster “as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14 ASV).

Beautiful beaches, religious oppression and ethnic strife characterize this area of South Asia. Beyond the colorful tourist areas on the inhabited islands, 99.4 % of Maldivians identify themselves as Muslim. A visitor cannot legally enter the country with more than one Bible out of fear that it will be given to a local citizen. Sri Lanka, a mountainous island, has been torn apart for decades because of fighting between the Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil Hindus. The two states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu are in southern India. Hundreds of miles of palm trees line the beaches of Kerala (or God’s Country to the locals). And, Tamil Nadu, with a population of 63 million, boasts of sending the most missionaries throughout India.

Prayer Guide

Countries & Indian States Maldives, Sri Lanka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
Language Tamil, Malayalam, Sinhalese, Divehi
Religion Hindu 71%; Buddhist 13%; Muslim 12%; Christian 2%
Population 112,000,000

Below is a list of the priority UUPGs:
{Please note the PEID# for any people group you are interested in.}

People Group PEID Country Population Primary Religion
Mappila 41247 India 8,603,290 Islam
Dhobi (Tamil) 47925 India 936,321 Islam
Rawther 41557 India 705,338 Islam – Sunni
Nulayar 41905 India 191,489 Hinduism
Veluttedan 41864 India 177,162 Hinduism
Marasari 41636 India 155,516 Hinduism
Senaithalaivar 41536 India 150,223 Hinduism
Bania (Malayalam) 48033 India 115,541 Hinduism