During COVID-19, donors have ensured that vulnerable people in Sri Lanka have received self-help and Bibles. But with this collection, our local partner organization will be able to help even more poor Sri Lankans with actual emergency aid. From our partner organization, we have received a number of testimonies of people in Sri Lanka who have already received help.
Pastor John struggled to support his family
John is a pastor in a community surrounding a tea plantation in Raththota in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. He leads a small house church and relies on donations from the congregation, which consists of poor workers on the tea plantation. Under normal circumstances, his income is quite small. But during the crisis and subsequent lockdown, it has been very difficult for him to support his family. Since all meetings have been canceled, he is struggling financially with very little money. He is therefore unable to buy basic necessities for his family. He has three young children.
He expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the relief package, which was a very welcome helping hand to him and his family in this time of crisis.
Rajkumar and Jeyamary lost their jobs due to COVID-19
Rajkumar and Jeyamary are from Nuwara Eliya in Central Province, where they work at a tea factory in Kotikawatta. During the first lockdown, Jeyamara lost his job and couldn't travel home as cross-district travel had been banned. After losing their jobs, they found it extremely difficult to raise money for basic food to survive. They were very happy when the Danish European Mission's partner visited them and distributed dry goods.
Maheswaran and his family
The man Maheswaran is from a poor background and hails from Poondaloya, in Kotmale, Nuwara Eliya. He is married and has a four-year-old daughter with his wife who is expecting their second child. He comes from a family of laborers. He earns his income from truck transportation and as a laborer for shops. Due to the travel restrictions, he has lost his daily income. He finds it very difficult to support his wife and daughter. Before, they received no help at all. The dry rations from the Danish European Mission's partner was a huge help and they were very grateful for the help during this difficult time.
Rajamani is battling cancer
The woman Rajamani works on a tea plantation as a day laborer. She is also battling cancer, for which she is undergoing treatment. She comes from a poor background. Her husband struggles with a gambling addiction that has left the family in debt. She has five children: three girls and two boys. Four of them are in school and the last one is taking a course in technical subjects. She said she is very grateful for the aid package, which was a very welcome help to her family during this time.
Murugesu was the sole investigator
Murugesu works on a tea plantation as a day laborer. During the current lockdown, he can't find work. In early 2020, his wife left him. It was a blow to the family, including their three children. He is the sole breadwinner for the family. He said that the assistance package was an incredible help for him and his three children, as he has no other way to support them. He also said that it was the very first time that someone had reached out and supported in the community. He was very grateful for the aid package and said that it will ensure that he and his family can survive, at least for a while.
Pastor lost his income
Gunaseelam leads a small house church in Matale village, Kaikawela, in a predominantly Buddhist area of a small village. He has three children. He lives on support donated by local families who come to his house church. They are from a poor background. The lockdown has meant that Gunaseelam has lost what little income he had. As a result, he and his wife are now struggling to make ends meet and provide for their children. When he received the package of dry goods, Gunaseelam said that "it was like a treasure he had found by a stroke of luck". He effusively thanked those who made it possible and said it was a great comfort to his family who have really felt the pressure of the crisis.
Thank you to everyone who stands with vulnerable Christians and others in need in Sri Lanka today.
Facts: Christian persecution in Sri Lanka
The Danish European Mission's partner documents attacks on Christians and takes cases for Christians to court. Years ago, there were several examples of nationalist Buddhist monks physically attacking priests and destroying churches. In recent years, the situation has improved, but Christians can find that the authorities make demands on churches that have no legal basis, such as requiring churches to register with the authorities to be legal. There are also recent examples of harassment and threats against pastors.
