This beached-lined island, originally named Ceylon, gained independence from Britain in 1948 and had its named changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. In the mid-1980s, violence broke out between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists, leaving tens of thousands dead. In December 2001, a peace accord was signed that raised hopes of stability and safety. However, several areas of the country remain marred by ethnic violence and conflict. Christians are the only people group in Sri Lanka in which the two ethnic groups are bridged in peaceful co-existence. 

Buddhism has been a part of Sri Lanka since the third century. Christianity was first introduced by the Portuguese in the 16th century, but Buddhism remains the state religion and is officially protected and promoted. Many Sri Lankans consider Christianity to be a foreign religion imposed by European colonials. While the Constitution contains a statement guarding freedom of religion, many Christian activities are seen to violate the special status awarded Buddhism.

The faithfulness of believers in the face of opposition is evident in that there has been a significant growth of evangelical Christianity since 1980. This has resulted in increased opposition from militant Buddhists, frequently led by local monks. Christians were subjected to a significant increase of violence in 2005 partly because relief efforts following the tsunami were used as an occasion for accusations against Christians that they were using aid as incentive to convert to Christianity.  Today mobs frequently threaten violence unless all Christian work is stopped in their area. Churches have been burned, believers beaten and Christian leaders killed. In February 2008, Pastor Neil Edirisinghe (37) was gunned down by two assailants outside his house in Ampara, Sri Lanka. The attackers also shot his wife Shiromi (31) in the stomach and left her for dead. The attack was reportedly a contract killing committed by people angry with his gospel ministry, which had led to the conversion of a prominent local person.

Sri Lankan believers continue to battle legislations that could bring about increased and legitimized persecution and harassment of minority religious groups in Sri Lanka by outlawing the “inducing of voluntary conversions from Buddhism” and punishing with jail terms those caught “spreading the faith.”  In 2004, the leader of a party of Buddhist monks proposed one such legislation as a private members bill and was met with opposition from The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) and other Christian groups and demoninations and civil rights organizations.  The Supreme Court then ruled the bill to be valid except for two clauses which were deemed unconstitutional and taken out of the legislation. In 2008 and early 2009, renewed efforts to implement the revised anti-conversion bill began, heightening concern for Christians in the country.

• Pray for protection for Christians as they are confronted by opposition.
• Pray for a lasting peace in Sri Lanka's civil war.
• Pray that the Gospel message will continue to grow and that many will come to Christ.