St. Michael's Church - Homagama Picture from the Archdiocese of Colombo More pictures available at www.archdioceseofcolombo.com
Two Catholic churches were attacked in Sri Lanka within four days in continuing violence against Christians that appears to be escalating since the death last month of a prominent Buddhist monk, Gangodawila Soma Thero. Just after midnight on Thursday, January 15, ten people broke into St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Homagama. Statues were smashed and furnishings were soaked in kerosene and set on fire. According to the church priest, Rev. Hishantha Perera, the members of the church are remaining calm, but are anxious to see those responsible brought to justice. This was the same church where a Buddhist mob tore down the cross and raised a Buddhist flag on the top of the church in November, 2003 (Click here for more details).
Early Sunday morning, January 18, St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church in the village of Hokandara was also attacked when around six youth cut through the fence and set burning tires against the door, damaging part of the building. There were no injuries in either attack.
Pray that Christians in Sri Lanka will continue to be a light in the darkness that surrounds them. Pray for a continued ministry for the Church in Sri Lanka.
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.
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 President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (Sept 2024)
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.
In July, a complaint against the Jesus Jeewamanai Revival Church in Polgahawela was issued by some villagers and Buddhist leaders who opposed the worship services that were taking place at the pastor's home. In response, police requested that the church restrict the number of people attending the gatherings, particularly by limiting participants who were visiting from outside of the community, until guidance was received from the authorities on how to handle the situation. For more information about this incident, go to this report.
A group of Christians praying together. Photo: VOMC
The Jesus Jeewamanai Revival Church in the town of Polgahawela has been the target of attacks perpetrated by disgruntled members of the community who oppose their place of worship. On July 7th and 11th, stones were thrown at the church building. Then, on July 14th, before the Christians' Sunday services were scheduled to begin, villagers blocked the road leading to the building in order to prevent the congregants and their pastor from accessing the facility.
On June 13th, the pastor of God's Kingdom Gospel Church in Kandapola, Sri Lanka, was constructing a house church building, together with the support of other pastors and church leaders, when he was approached by a junior manager. The pastor was questioned by the manager as to whether or not the Christians had permission to build a church.
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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