{{Multiple issues| {{Confusing|date=October 2016}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2018}}}} {{Infobox ethnic group | group = Sri Lankan Canadians | caption = mall>from controller.controller 2nd from the right</small> | population = 136,240<br />(by place of birth, 2021 Census)<ref name="Census 2021">{{cite web |title=Selected places of birth for the immigrant population |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?LANG=E&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&DGUIDlist=2021A000011124&HEADERlist=2,,49,51,50,48,52,,37,39,38,36,31,,5,6,4,20,25,26,,10,9,8,7,11,,21,19,,53,54,,42,44,40,43,41,,15,13,18,12,16,14,17,,45,46,47,,33,34,1,3&SearchText=Canada |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca | date=9 February 2022 |publisher=Statistics Canada |access-date=21 May 2022}}</ref> | popplace = {{Flatlist| * Ontario * Quebec * British Columbia * Alberta }} | langs = {{Flatlist| * Canadian English * Sri Lankan English * Canadian French * Tamil (Sri Lankan dialect) * Sinhala * Sri Lanka Malay }} | rels = {{Flatlist| * Hinduism * Theravada Buddhism * Islam * Christianity }} | related = {{Flatlist| * Sri Lankan people * South Asian Canadians }} }}
'''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.<ref name="bare_url">{{cite web|title=Selected places of birth for the immigrant population|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?LANG=E&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&DGUIDlist=2021A000011124&HEADERlist=2,,49,51,50,48,52,,37,39,38,36,31,,5,6,4,20,25,26,,10,9,8,7,11,,21,19,,53,54,,42,44,40,43,41,,15,13,18,12,16,14,17,,45,46,47,,33,34,1,3&SearchText=Canada|work=2021 Census| date=9 February 2022 |publisher=StatsCan|access-date=18 December 2022}}</ref>
== Demography == {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Sri Lankan Canadian demography by religion ! rowspan="2" |Religious group ! colspan="2" |2021<ref name="religion2021">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2023-05-10 |title= Religion by ethnic or cultural origins: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=9810034101 |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>{{efn|name=Religion2021|Religious breakdown proportions based on "Sri Lankan" and "Sinhalese" ethnic or cultural origin responses on the 2021 census.<ref name="religion2021"/>}} ! colspan="2" |2001<ref name="religion2001">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2013-12-23 |title= 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 |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/English/census01/products/standard/themes/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GID=0&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=68635&PRID=0&PTYPE=55430,53293,55440,55496,71090&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2001&THEME=44&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>{{efn|name=Religion2001|Religious breakdown proportions based on "Sri Lankan" and "Sinhalese" ethnic or cultural origin responses on the 2001 census.<ref name="religion2001"/>}} |- !{{abbr|Pop.|Population}} !{{Abbr|%|percentage}} !{{abbr|Pop.|Population}} !{{Abbr|%|percentage}} |- | Hinduism | 74,910 | {{Percentage | 74910 | 144485 | 2 }} | 39,090 | {{Percentage | 39090 | 61315 | 2 }} |- | Christianity | 34,550 | {{Percentage | 34550 | 144485 | 2 }} | 15,350 | {{Percentage | 15350 | 61315 | 2 }} |- | Buddhism | 19,050 | {{Percentage | 19050 | 144485 | 2 }} | 3,440 | {{Percentage | 3440 | 61315 | 2 }} |- | Irreligion | 10,220 | {{Percentage | 10220 | 144485 | 2 }} | 1,715 | {{Percentage | 1715 | 61315 | 2 }} |- | Islam | 5,425 | {{Percentage | 5425 | 144485 | 2 }} | 1,470 | {{Percentage | 1470 | 61315 | 2 }} |- | Judaism | 60 | {{Percentage | 60 | 144485 | 2 }} | 55 | {{Percentage | 55 | 61315 | 2 }} |- | Sikhism | 55 | {{Percentage | 55 | 144485 | 2 }} | 40 | {{Percentage | 40 | 61315 | 2 }} |- | Indigenous spirituality | 0 | {{Percentage | 0 | 144485 | 2 }} | 0 | {{Percentage | 0 | 144485 | 2 }} |- | Other | 225 | {{Percentage | 225 | 144485 | 2 }} | 145 | {{Percentage | 145 | 61315 | 2 }} |- ! Total Sri Lankan Canadian population ! 144,485 ! {{Percentage | 144485 | 144485 | 2 }} ! 61,315 ! {{Percentage | 61315 | 61315 | 2 }} |}
== 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/themes/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?Temporal=2001&PID=62911&APATH=3&GID=431515&METH=1&PTYPE=55440&THEME=44&FOCUS=0&AID=0&PLACENAME=0&PROVINCE=0&SEARCH=0&GC=99&GK=NA&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=&FL=0&RL=0&FREE=0|title=File not found - Fichier non trouvé|website=12.statcan.ca|access-date=27 May 2018}}</ref> 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:<ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/index.cfm?Lang=E Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables] (choose desired city in the left column and look under the term "Sri Lankan" in the chart)</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |- !Province !Sri Lankans |- |20px Ontario |85,935<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=35&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |title=Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |website=www12.statcan.ca |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090921212332/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=35&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |archive-date=21 September 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |20px Quebec |10,750<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=24&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |title=Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |access-date=2009-01-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909155132/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=24&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |archive-date=2009-09-09 }}</ref> |- |20px British Columbia |4,150<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=59&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |title=Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |access-date=2009-01-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909173806/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=59&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |archive-date=2009-09-09 }}</ref> |- |20px Alberta |1,740<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=48&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |title=Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |access-date=2009-01-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903121143/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=48&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |archive-date=2009-09-03 }}</ref> |- |20px Manitoba |445<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=46&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |title=Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |access-date=2009-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909155138/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=46&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |archive-date=2009-09-09 }}</ref> |- |20px Saskatchewan |240<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=47&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |title=Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |access-date=2009-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909155844/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=47&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |archive-date=2009-09-09 }}</ref> |- |20px Nova Scotia |155<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=12&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |title=Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |access-date=2009-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903114948/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=12&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |archive-date=2009-09-03 }}</ref> |- |20px Newfoundland and Labrador |115<ref name="bare_url_a">{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=10&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |title=Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |website=www12.statcan.ca |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902024358/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=10&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |archive-date=2 September 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |20px New Brunswick |45<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=13&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |title=Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |access-date=2009-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090921185146/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=13&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |archive-date=2009-09-21 }}</ref> |- |20px Yukon |25<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=60&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |title=Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |access-date=2009-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909164636/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=60&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |archive-date=2009-09-09 }}</ref> |- |20px Northwest Territories |10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=61&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |title=Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |access-date=2009-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903115003/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=61&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |archive-date=2009-09-03 }}</ref> |- |20px Nunavut |10<ref name="bare_url_a" /> |- |20px Prince Edward Island |0<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=11&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |title=Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |access-date=2009-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909151227/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=11&Table=2&Data=Count&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All |archive-date=2009-09-09 }}</ref> |- |20px '''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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immigration.gov.lk/|title=...:::...Department of Immigration and Emigration...:::...|website=Immigration.gov.lk|access-date=20 August 2017}}</ref> 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.),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mis.nsf.ac.lk/expatriate.htm|title=::: Welcome to Science & Technology Management Information System @ NSF|website=Mis.nsf.ac.lk|access-date=20 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407214148/http://www.mis.nsf.ac.lk/expatriate.htm|archive-date=2010-04-07|url-status=dead}}</ref> which may sometime require the applicants to be Sri Lankan citizens.
==Notable Sri Lankan Canadians== {{Main article|List of 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== {{Portal|Canada|Sri Lanka}} *South Asian Canadian *Tamil Canadians
== Notes == {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.tamilstar.biz Canadian Tamil Business Directory]
{{Asian Canadians}} {{People of Canada}} {{Sri Lankan diaspora}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sri Lankan}} Category:Canadian people of Sri Lankan descent Category:Sri Lankan diaspora in Canada Category:Sri Lankan diaspora Category:South Asian diaspora in Canada