Study Guide: Filled - Radical

Sri Lankab Population: 20 million b People-Groups: 9b Main Religion: Buddhist b Languages: Sinhalab Non-Christians: 92.38% b Christians: 7.62%b Area: 65,610 sq.km. Large Island 80 km. Southeast of India.b Briefing: Claimed by some to be the site of the Garden of Eden, Sri Lanka is nowan island of tears. The ugly conflict between the Sinhala and Tamil has brought greatsuffering with an estimated 100,000 killed, 800,000 Sri Lankans (mainly Tamil)have emigrated or fled to India and the West, and between 700,000 and 1.5 milliondisplaced in Sri Lanka. Buddhists have long prided themselves on their non-violentreligion and tolerance. The bigotry and violence of Buddhist extremists against bothHindu Tamil and Christians has shattered that image. There is widespread disillusionmentin both Buddhism and Hinduism that has caused many to consider theclaims of Christ despite the social disadvantages and threat of persecution. Pleasepray for increased numbers to find peace in Him. Please pray for India as we equipthem to go into Sri Lanka in 2010.b Persecution: Although freedom for other religions is assured, there has been asteady erosion of that freedom with discrimination against minority religions throughtaxation, employment and education. Many Sri Lankans perceive Christianity as aforeign religion and a colonial imposition. From 2003 to 2005, 170 acts of violenceagainst Christians or their organizations have been recorded. In 2005, Buddhist clericsand lawyers aggressively pursued attempts to pass an anti-conversion law throughthe Supreme Court. The proposed law would make leading a Buddhist to Christ acrime punishable by up to seven years in prison and a fine as high as $5,000 U.S.- 47 -