Protests by Buddhist monks forced the abandonment of a morning service of a church in Kandy District of Central Province, Sri Lanka, on Sunday 6 July.
Christians were preparing to hold the meeting at the home of the Pastor Shashi in Ududumbara, a town with a predominantly Buddhist population (more than 91%). There are no church buildings, mosques, or Hindu temples in the area, as the local Buddhist monks do not permit any other religious group to operate.
The monks surrounded the house and demanded that the church cease its activities, a Barnabas contact in Sri Lanka reports. The police soon arrived but dispersed the believers, warning them not to proceed with the service, as a group was planning to surround them and cause unrest.
Later that day, as the pastor and other church leaders tried to meet, another group of monks tried to surround Pastor Shashi’s house. Again, police intervened to prevent violence but held the church leaders responsible for escalating the situation.
This hostility seems to have been stirred by a recent revival in the church, our contact reports with many non-Christians beginning to attend the services.
Church officials are planning to meet the local the authorities to resolve the situation.
As a temporary measure, Christians from Ududumbara plan to hire a bus to travel 30 miles to a church service in Kandy.
Our contact in Sri Lanka asks, “Please pray for divine protection, spiritual strength, and unwavering faith during this time of persecution.”
How you can pray
Pray that Pastor Sashi and his congregation will receive the Lord’s protection, guidance and strength at this tense time. Pray that their faith will remain resolute, fixed on the Lord Jesus, and that the Lord’s work in Ududumbara will grow from strength to strength.
