Private Members Bill Listed; New Website Goes Online

0 minutes read

The Voice of the Martyrs learned this morning that the private members bill on the prohibition of forcible conversion put forward by a member of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) party has been listed in the Order Paper of Sri Lanka's parliament for today, 21st July 2004. According to procedure, those who object to the bill have just seven days to file objections with the Supreme Court, counting from today. Please pray for the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka and other Christian groups who are concerned that this legislation will severely restricted religious liberty in Sri Lanka.

SriLankanChristians.Com WebsiteThis week, a group of concerned Christian citizens from Sri Lanka released a new website, http://www.srilankanchristians.com/, dedicated to be a voice for those whose rights are being violated. SriLankanChristians.com come together from a variety of ethnic traditions and diverse denominations in Sri Lanka for the common purpose of ensuring freedom of religion, worship and practice for Christians in Sri Lanka. This website contains a good deal of relevant and helpful information and The Voice of the Martyrs encouraged you to get involved in speaking out on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka at this time.

  • Current Ministry Projects

    VOMC supports persecuted Christians in Sri Lanka as they witness for Christ in hostile environments through Biblical training, legal aid, and advocacy, as well as rehabilitation and emergency assistance.

    Project Funds: Equipping the Saints, Legal Defence, Relief & Development, Families of Martyrs

  • Country Information

    Population
    23,326,272 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Sinhalese (74.9), Sri Lankan Tamil (11.2), Sri Lankan Moors (9.2), Indian Tamil (4.2), other (0.5)

    Religion (%)
    Buddhism (70.2), Hinduism (12.6), Islam (9.7), Roman Catholic (6.1), Evangelical Christianity (2.0)

    Leader
    Ranil Wickremesinghe (July 2022)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    Mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and Jaffna Tamil customary law

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Sri Lanka

    Let's unite our hearts in prayer for those in Sri Lanka who are being persecuted for their faith, thanking God for what He is accomplishing despite the opposition. Ask that His people will be encouraged, strengthened and equipped by the promises of the Bible – the Sword of the Spirit – knowing that He is watching over His Word to perform it (Ephesians 6:17; Jeremiah 1:12). May they not only overcome the strategies of the enemy, but also serve as effective witnesses to those in need of eternal salvation and deliverance from spiritual captivity.

Select a Region

Sri Lanka News

  • Acts of Vandalism Disrupt Pastors' Convention
    The inside of a church building shows crosses at the back of the stage, two flower arrangements and chairs arranged, ready for a gathering.
    A church building in Sri Lanka.
    Photo: VOMC

    Pastors from the Foursquare Church recently gathered at their denominational campground in the Puttalam District of Sri Lanka for an annual convention. At around 1 a.m. on January 25th, a group of unidentified individuals entered the camp and began vandalizing the property.

    Read more...

  • Church Ordered to Find New Location
    A congregation and a group at the front are worshipping the Lord together, many with their hands raised.
      

    On the morning of December 3rd, police entered the Assembly of God church in the town of Makola, which is located near the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo. The officer in charge questioned whether the service was being conducted legally. Since the believers were in the middle of a worship service, the pastor agreed to report to the police station the next morning.

    Read more...

  • Pastor Arrested for Controversial Remarks
    A strong light shines on a steeple against a dark sky. The image includes the text, ''The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?'' ~ Psalm 27:1

    Pastor Jerome Fernando is the leader of the Glorious Church in Katunayake, Sri Lanka. Along with his regular church ministry role, he also holds evangelistic meetings in various areas of the world. As a prominent religious leader, his messages are heard by many online, as well as by those attending his speaking engagements in person.

    Read more...

  • Christians Assaulted and Threatened
    A large, white church with a cross atop of the steeple.
    A church in Sri Lanka
    Photo: VOMC

    As the pastor of the Good Shepherd Church in the Polonnaruwa district of Sri Lanka seeks to demonstrate the love of Christ to the members of his community, part of his ministry includes overseeing a drug rehabilitation centre in the local village. According to a recent report, a Christian man working at the centre was attacked on June 16th by two opposing villagers, resulting in abrasions on his neck. The perpetrators also threatened to "break the church."

    Read more...

View All

Sri Lanka Videos

 
Sri Lanka: Is There Really Freedom of Religion
/component/allvideoshare/category/sri-lanka.htm
 
Raising a Voice for the Persecuted: An Interview with Roshini Wickremesinhe, the Executive Director of the Religious Liberty Partnership
/component/allvideoshare/category/sri-lanka.htm
 
Sri Lanka: Easter Bombing 2019
/component/allvideoshare/category/sri-lanka.htm
 
Sri Lanka: Persecution in Paradise
/component/allvideoshare/category/sri-lanka.htm
 
Sri Lankan church attacked
/component/allvideoshare/category/sri-lanka.htm