Churches Threatened, One Attacked

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On November 9, The Voice of the Martyrs received a report from the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) outlining recent anti-Christian activity taking place.  In the early morning of November 1, attackers broke down the doors of an independent church in Korakandamulla, Matugama and went to the pastor's living area.  In the presence of the two young children, the men slapped the pastor's wife and cut off her hair with a sword.  They then set fire to some furniture.

Demonstration by Sri Lankan Buddhist monks

A week later, a group of Buddhists staged a demonstration in Matugama.  Delivering a petition to the Divisional Secretary against various churches in the area, they stated that the "patience and tolerance" of the Buddhists was reaching an end.  They threatened serious violence unless action was taken against Christian fundamentalists.  Handbills were handed out calling on Buddhists to rise up against churches in the area.  Information has been received that a similar protest is planned for Sunday, November 14 in Udugampola in Gampaha District.

Pray that the threatened violence will abate.  Pray for wisdom for church leaders in Sri Lanka , as they deal with this volatile situation.

The Voice of the Martyrs has recently released a 35-minute video documentary on Christian persecution in Sri Lanka .  You can order a VHS or DVD copy from our online catalog.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in Sri Lanka , click here.

  • 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.

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Sri Lanka News

  • Acts of Vandalism Disrupt Pastors' Convention
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    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.

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  • Church Ordered to Find New Location
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    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.

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  • Pastor Arrested for Controversial Remarks
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    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.

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  • 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."

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Sri Lanka: Persecution in Paradise
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