Hostile
Sri Lanka
The island nation of Sri Lanka, off the southeastern coast of India, has never fully recovered from a civil war between Buddhist and Hindu factions that ended more than a decade ago. The government has put significant efforts into resettling those displaced during the conflict between the majority-Buddhist Sinhalese population and the Hindu Tamil separatists. There are strong churches in the country as well as parachurch organizations that provide Bible training, theological education and missions training. Churches in Sri Lanka are actively sending missionaries to other countries in South Asia.
Major Religion
Roughly 68 percent of Sri Lankans are Buddhist, 12 percent Hindu, 10 percent Muslim and 7 percent Christian. The north of the country is majority Hindu and the south majority Buddhist. Christians are a persecuted minority in both areas.
Persecutor
Buddhists are the primary persecutors, sometimes led by Buddhist monks who openly stir up communities against the Christians who live among them. Hindus also oppose evangelism and conversion to Christianity.
WHAT IT MEANS TO FOLLOW CHRIST IN SRI LANKA
Christians can openly gather and worship in Sri Lanka, but the government is now pressuring all churches to officially register. Local governments sometimes participate in attacks on pastors and churches. Despite the threats and attacks, churches are strongly engaged in church-planting and missionary-sending activities.
Access to Bibles
There is a Bible society in Sri Lanka, and Bibles are readily available except in the most difficult areas. Give Bibles
VOM Work
VOM supports training for missionaries, pastors and church planters and provides Bibles and resources in difficult and underserved areas. Give to VOM’s Global Ministry
Pray for Sri Lanka
- Pray that the millions of Buddhists in Sri Lanka will experience the love and power of Christ.
- Pray for Rebecca, who survived a bomb attack at her church in 2019 but faces ongoing medical complications.
- Pray for Christians who have been beaten and hospitalized for sharing their faith.
- Ask the Lord to encourage Sri Lankan pastors by seeing their ministry efforts bear fruit.
- Pray for Pastor Benedict and Christians like him who have been arrested for opening churches.
