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Purchase all Operation World products here: The book, CD-ROM, book/CD-ROM combo pack, DVD-ROM, and wall map
Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Asia
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 65,610 sq km
Large island 80 km southeast of India.
Population: 20,409,946 Annual Growth: 0.88%
Capital: Colombo
Urbanites: 15.1%
HDI Rank: 102 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Peoples: 76 (84% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card
Official language: Sinhala and Tamil, with English as the link language Languages: 7 All languages
Religion
Largest Religion: Buddhist
| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 1,710,353 | 8.38 | 0.8 |
| Evangelicals | 242,965 | 1.2 | 2.3 |
| Buddhist | 14,291,044 | 70.02 |
Answer to Prayer
The emergence of Sri Lankan churches and denominations planted and led by Sri Lankan Christians is a point for praise. The establishment and growth of these groups – that make a point of not being tied to any Western funding agency – go a long way in establishing Christianity as a valid indigenous expression of faith.
Challenge for Prayer
Traditional mainline Churches have declined from 21% of the population in 1722 to 7% in 2010. The causes – nominalism, theological liberalism, insufficient outreach and lack of indigeneity. Aggressive Buddhist proselytism and emigration of Tamil Christians steadily whittle away their flocks. Praise God for growing evangelical movements in most of the Protestant denominations today. Pray for renewal that will correct the above shortcomings and see God shape a purified, biblically sound indigenous Church with a focus on extending the love and truth of Christ in word and deed to all of Sri Lanka.
For an additional 9 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
More Information
The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of Sri Lanka.
