Source: www.csw.org.uk
Date: April 24, 2021
‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ – John 14:27
Jesus’s comforting words to his disciples remind us that in him, a peace is available to us that transcends any suffering we experience. This week, pray this verse over Sri Lanka.
On Wednesday this week, Sri Lanka marked two years since a series of bombings targeting the Christian community across the country claimed over 250 lives. Churches and hotels in the majority Catholic cities and towns of Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa were bombed on Easter Sunday 2019.
A subsequent parliamentary report found that the government had received intelligence that a terrorist attack was imminent, but had taken no action. A member of the largest of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist nationalist groups said, ‘Blood is on the government’s hands for ignoring the radicalization of Islam.’
Muslim leaders condemned the attacks, with many denying the bombers a religious burial, sending a signal that such violence in the name of faith was ‘unacceptable.’ In the aftermath, the Muslim community suffered retaliatory attacks by both Christians and Buddhists. One Muslim woman described her friend’s reaction to these attacks, saying, ‘She hasn’t stepped out of the house from last Sunday. I visited her. She is really scared.’
In summary, please pray:
- For an outpouring of comfort and peace for everyone who is mourning the loss of their loved ones two years ago this week.
- That in future the government will act quickly on intelligence about terrorism, to keep Sri Lanka’s citizens safe.
- That peace will rule the nation, and violent attacks on the grounds of faith will become a thing of the past.