“I will strengthen Sri Lanka and restore them because I have compassion on Sri Lanka.”
“I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them(Zechariah 10:6,NIV).
》 Country Profile
Continent｜ Southern Asia
Population｜ 22.18 million
Area｜ 65,610㎢ Located 80km southeast of India in southwest Asia.
Capital City｜ Colombo (620,000 people)
People Groups｜Total 161Groups, Sinhalese 74.9%, Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Moor 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%
People Groups Unreached | 73 (14.7% of the population)
Offical Language(s) ｜ Sinhalese, Tamil, English
Total Languages ｜ 20
Bible translations ｜ Completed 13, New Testament 3, Partial 2
Religion｜ Christianity 7.6% (Protestant 0.8%, Catholic 6.1%), Buddhism 70.1%, Hinduism 12.6%, Islam 9.7%, Evangelical 1.2% (240,000 people)
》 About Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Sinhalese people from northern India arrived on the island in the late 6th century BC and established a kingdom after conquering the native inhabitants. Buddhism was introduced around 250 BC and was adopted as the state religion. In the 14th century, Tamil people from southern India invaded the island and founded a Tamil kingdom in the northern region.
Starting in the 16th century, Sri Lanka became a colony under Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule for about 450 years. The country gained independence in 1948, initially known as Ceylon, but changed its name to the Republic of Sri Lanka in 1972. From 1983 to 2009, the country endured a 26-year civil war between government forces and Tamil separatist rebels, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The war resulted in over 100,000 deaths, and ethnic tensions persist to this day. Mahinda Rajapaksa ruled with an iron fist from 2005 to 2015, and his brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, became president in 2019. However, in July 2022, amid severe economic crisis and widespread anti-government protests, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and resigned. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was subsequently elected president by Parliament.
Sri Lanka’s economy has been in official default since May 18, 2022, due to a severe currency crisis that has stalled domestic revenue, tax collection, and economic activity. Inflation has skyrocketed, and the country is facing critical shortages of food, fuel, and medicine, leading to national bankruptcy. The government is seeking a $3 million loan from the IMF and $75 million in foreign currency to pay for essential goods and fuel. The World Bank, India, and G7 nations have agreed to help with Sri Lanka’s debt relief, but the IMF insists that the country must raise interest rates and taxes to secure the loan.
Sri Lanka was once the world’s largest producer of black tea, with black tea exports, garment exports, tourism, and remittances from overseas workers being its main sources of foreign currency. Coconuts and rubber are also important products for the country.
Sri Lanka’s GDP Per capita is approximately $3,814.
》 Scripture Focus
| Zechariah 10:1-8(NIV) 1. Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone. 2. The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd. 3. “My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD Almighty will care for his flock, the house of Judah, and make them like a proud horse in battle. 4. From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler. 5. Together they will be like mighty men trampling the muddy streets in battle. Because the LORD is with them, they will fight and overthrow the horsemen. 6. “I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them. 7. The Ephraimites will become like mighty men, and their hearts will be glad as with wine. Their children will see it and be joyful; their hearts will rejoice in the LORD. 8. I will signal for them and gather them in. Surely I will redeem them; they will be as numerous as before. |
》 Prayer Points
1. Christianity took root in Sri Lanka during the 450 years it was a colony under various European powers. By the 18th century, over 20% of the population were Christians. However, due to nominalism, liberal theology, and a lack of evangelism and indigenization, the Christian population has now declined to around 7%. While evangelical churches have grown to about 240,000 members, they are divided by denominations, sects, and ethnic groups, making unity essential. Instead of competing for rapid growth, churches need to focus on nurturing their members through the Word and prayer.
Let us thank God that the church has endured persecution from Buddhist monks and extremists and continues to evangelize. Pray that the church will spread the gospel even more and that Sri Lanka will repent and return to the Lord.
2. Foreign missionaries are supporting the church in Sri Lanka by obtaining visas through professional ministries. They provide theological education at institutions such as the Four Square Gospel Church Bible School, Lanka Bible College, and Colombo Theological Seminary. Denominational mission organizations, along with interdenominational groups like the Cross Refuge Mission, Margaya Fellowship, and Lanka Village Ministries, are actively engaged in mission work. Let us pray that Sri Lankan pastors and missionaries will be strengthened as joyful warriors in the Lord. May the church fully support them so that God’s Kingdom may flourish in Sri Lanka.
3. Children in Sri Lanka face severe issues such as malnutrition, infanticide, abandonment, abuse, and child prostitution. Additionally, there are serious problems such as alcoholism, suicide, violence, and rape in Sri Lankan society, which means there is a great need for work among the youth.
Over 700,000 Sri Lankans, mostly women, went to the Middle East to work as domestic helpers, where they were often abused and exploited. The Tamil people, who make up 11% of the population, have suffered greatly from the civil war, and only the gospel can truly heal their wounds.
It’s good to see that churches like the Free Church Alliance and Smyrna Church are helping the poor and neglected Tamil communities, and the number of believers is increasing. There is also a need to share the gospel with the Muslim Moors, Malays, and other groups. Moreover, some groups like the Rodhiya, Ahikuntika, and Veddas still do not have any churches.
Let us pray that God will bless these unreached people groups with His grace. May there be a revival in Sri Lanka, like rain that nourishes crops, so that everyone may receive an abundance of blessings.
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