Image: Three friends from Denmark distributed Bibles to poor and persecuted Christians during their summer vacation in Sri Lanka.
Our partners in Sri Lanka are generally satisfied with the results of both the recent presidential and parliamentary elections. They believe it bodes well for the future of religious freedom in the country.
However, there are still problems for Christians and especially Christians converting from Hinduism to Christianity in Sri Lanka, as evidenced by a recent report on attacks on Christians. However, there are indications that the number of attacks is decreasing. Still, what is being reported is serious enough. The majority population of Madu in the Mannar district recently decided that no Christians could be buried in the town's public cemetery and that people who communicate with convert Christians will be punished.
Crowd made illegal demands on pastor
Elsewhere, in Neluwa in Galle district, a group of ten Buddhist monks and about 30 villagers broke into and disrupted a Sunday service, attacking those present, including the priest and his wife. A later interrogation of the priest and his wife at the police station was attended by the local chairman and the secretary of a Buddhist organization for the protection of Buddhist teachings, and the priest was told that he could not hold any more services until he had registered his church. The priest said that the deputy police commissioner in charge of the interrogation would have to charge him if he had done anything illegal. However, the crowd forced their way into the pastor's office and threatened him, forcing him to sign an agreement that he would not hold any services until he had registered his church - which is not a legal requirement in Sri Lanka.
Please pray for the Christians in Sri Lanka that they will boldly share their faith with others so that God's word may prosper and that they will stand firm on their constitutional right to religious freedom. Pray also for the projects run by Christians who want to help their whole community, that the projects will contribute to greater respect for Christians and open the eyes of local non-Christians to who Jesus really is.
It costs around DKK 40 to ensure that a poor Sri Lankan Christian can get their own Bible.
