Country Profile

• Sri Lanka, once known for its tolerance and non-violence, has experienced the growth of Buddhist extremism in recent years. This multi-religious and multi-ethnic country, historically a Buddhist kingdom, has welcomed refugees from various backgrounds, including Hindu, Muslim, and Christian. However, factors such as reactions to Tamil violence, the growth of the Muslim community, and concerns about Christian evangelism methods have contributed to rising tensions. Persecution against Christians has manifested in waves of violence, resulting in the destruction or damage of at least 250 churches in recent years. Beneath the surface of Buddhism and Hinduism, ancient spiritual beliefs persist, and they continue to hold sway. Pray for the power of Christ to break these strongholds.
• Traditional mainline Churches have declined from 21% of the population in 1722 to 7% in 2010. The causes - nominalism, theological liberalism, insufficient outreach and lack of indigeneity. Aggressive Buddhist proselytism and emigration of Tamil Christians steadily whittle away their flocks. Praise God for growing evangelical movements in most of the Protestant denominations today. Pray for renewal that will correct the above shortcomings and see God shape a purified, biblically sound indigenous Church with a focus on extending the love and truth of Christ in word and deed to all of Sri Lanka.
• Christian presence in Sri Lanka is patchy and uneven, but this is changing rapidly. Most Christians are concentrated in the urban areas of Colombo and Jaffna and on the northwest coast. However, recent evangelism sees Christian witness extending into every administrative division of Sri Lanka. Many trained workers emigrate, and few are willing to work in the less-privileged areas. There are many new Christians from the Buddhist and Hindu communities. Pray for ministers who are willing to serve in the humble and challenging - but responsive and open - rural environments.

Special ministry challenges:

• The Lanka Tamil community, once relatively prosperous but now undone and scattered by the violence perpetrated by the LTTE and the Sri Lankan military. The diaspora is over 700,000 strong; pray for the many churches among them to be forces for the evangelization of Sri Lanka, rather than agitators pushing for an independent Tamil state.
• The Estate Tamils have long been a despised, poverty-stricken and marginalized community, but growing numbers are turning to Christ. A significant amount of outreach is directed toward them by the Free Churches Fellowship, AoG and the Smyrna Church.
• Young people. Ministry to young people in Sri Lanka is a growing area, but still needs more attention. Many congregations have no resources for ministry to youth and children.
• The villages still present a challenge. There remain 25,000 villages without a church. Many are devoid of any witness. The ravaged villages of the north and east are particularly needy. Ministries are recognizing the need for specialized training and strategy for rural ministry.
• Compassionate ministry to victims of the tsunami's destruction, the civil war and general poverty. There must be a clear separation of physical assistance and gospel outreach in a society highly sensitized to issues of evagelism, Western money and buying converts. Many local ministries operate aid programmes independently of their outreach work; pray for wisdom for and response to both.