Attacks in Sri Lanka

More than 350 people were killed, and hundreds more injured in a series of explosions across the nation of Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. The attacks were aimed at two Catholic churches, a Pentecostal church, and three luxury five-star hotels in the heart of Sri Lanka’s capital of Colombo. 

Although this incident doesn’t appear to be instigated by Buddhists, the Christian Church in Sri Lanka has suffered persecution in many forms over the past several years at the hands of radical Buddhist groups. Just a week before the Easter attacks, a Methodist congregation was held against their will inside a church during Palm Sunday services when radical Buddhist monks gave an order for them to cease meeting. 

Sri Lanka, “The Pearl of the Indian Ocean,” is one of the world’s most Buddhist countries, incorporating over 70% of the population. Buddhism is the national religion, protected and supported by the government. Their Buddhist writings state, “Lord Buddha made three visits to Sri Lanka in which he rid the island of forces inimical to Buddhism and instructed deities to protect the ancestors of the Sinhalese [the majority people group of Sri Lanka] … to enable the establishment and flourishing of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.” This myth has led “Sinhalese Buddhist nationalists [to] maintain that they are the Buddha’s chosen people, and that the island of Sri Lanka is the Buddhist promised land.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_and_violence)

During the four Buddhist holy days in May, we fast and pray for the victims of the attacks, for those who are persecuting God’s people, for peace in the nation, and for protection, inner peace, and boldness despite danger for the Sri Lankan believers. (https://prayercast.com/sri-lanka.html)