How does the Sri Lankan team have so many Christian players?

[PakLFC]

Wondering why the Sri Lankan team has so many Christian players compared to other subcontinental sides. Were the Christian missionaries more active there over the centuries or something?

 

[King-Misbah]

Wondering why the Sri Lankan team has so many Christian players compared to other subcontinental sides. Were the Christian missionaries more active there over the centuries or something?

Its most likeky to do with the fact that the Portuguese colonized Sri Lanka and they were strict Christians.

 

[Slog]

Who are the Christians?

Sri Lanka is only 7% Christians and 9% muslims

 

[WC-Passion]

I thought it was mainly a country that followed Buddhism? I'm not sure what you mean.

 

[PakLFC]

Fernando, Perera, Mendis. Matthews and Vandersay perhaps more in the current side are either Christians or Catholics I believe. This has always been something unique about Sri Lankan Cricketers compared to others from the subcontinent.

 

[PakLFC]

Missed out the many De Silva's who have represented Sri Lanka. They don't sound Hindu or Buddhist names to me.

 

[Pakistanian]

They're only 10% of Sri Lanka's population and most cricketers are christian.

Also Most of them are Catholic, here in America and most of the English-speaking world Catholics and Christians are two different things.

 

[Tubs]

Good question, they are quite over-represented. Maybe their names stick out from the rest, so we notice them more? Not too sure, would be good if someone came up with a plausible answer.

 

[Amirforpresident]

Jeffrey Vandersay would have been probably something like Jeffrey Van der Zee in the past. In Jeffrey his case it would mean Jeffrey of the sea as it is a dutch last name. Sri Lanka used to be a dutch colony.

 

[LongHorn]

The current team has Fernando and Matthews
The 90s team had Aravinda de Silva and Vaas

If you do want to talk about ethnic representation then I would be more surprised that Muslims, being ~10% have not had many players in their top XI , Jehan Mubarak being one I can think of, any others?

 

[Tiger96]

The current team has Fernando and Matthews
The 90s team had Aravinda de Silva and Vaas

If you do want to talk about ethnic representation then I would be more surprised that Muslims, being ~10% have not had many players in their top XI , Jehan Mubarak being one I can think of, any others?

Farveez Maharoof was also a Muslim.

For some reason, Muslims in SL also convert to Buddhism.

Dilshan and Suraj Randiv are Buddhist converts from Islam .

 

[Amirforpresident]

Farveez Maharoof was also a Muslim.

For some reason, Muslims in SL also convert to Buddhism.

Dilshan and Suraj Randiv are Buddhist converts from Islam .

Really? I didnt know that.

Are they being pressurised to convert?

 

[jaf348]

Wondering why the Sri Lankan team has so many Christian players compared to other subcontinental sides. Were the Christian missionaries more active there over the centuries or something?

Surnames are not a reflection of religion as far as Sri Lanka is concerned. There are lots of Sri Lankan Buddhists with surnames like Fernando or Perera.

 

[Tiger96]

Really? I didnt know that.

Are they being pressurised to convert?

I think Converting to Buddhism helps them integrate better and become more inclusive in SL Society.

Both, Dilshan and Suraj Randiv were Muslims who later converted to Buddhism.

 

[Tiger96]

Surnames are not a reflection of religion as far as Sri Lanka is concerned. There are lots of Sri Lankan Buddhists with surnames like Fernando or Perera.

Agree, Aravinda De Silva for example is a Buddhist who however has a Portuguese surname.