Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has been called many names over the centuries, including "Island of Gems" for its rubies and sapphires. The Arabs called it the "Isle of Delight," while to the Chinese it was the "Land without Sorrow"—a name that rings with irony in light of its long, bloody civil war.

Two main people groups live on this island in the Indian Ocean. The Sinhalese, mostly Buddhists, account for 74 percent of the population. Tamils, a mostly Hindu minority, make up 18 percent. The Tamils are divided into two groups: Lanka Tamils, who have a 1,000-year history on the island, and Indian Tamils, who arrived in the 19th century from India to work the tea plantations. Sinhala and Tamil are the official languages, with English widely spoken and understood. The nation enjoys one of the highest literacy rates in Asia—90 percent.

After 450 years of colonial rule, the island won its independence from Britain in 1948. In the ensuing decades, ethnic tension between the Sinhalese and Tamils grew, fueling the dream for a separate Tamil homeland. From 1983 to 2002, civil war raged between government troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) separatists. The nearly two decades of fighting claimed the lives of more than 64,000 people and drove 1.6 million from their homes.

But ethnic tension continued beyond 2002 and reached a threatening apex in 2006. Although no outright war has been declared, things are far from peaceful.

Prior to the conflict, tourism was a major industry. Sinhalese culture and art—some dating from the time of Christ—drew many visitors, as did the rare wildlife including elephants, leopards, wild boars and crocodiles.

In December 2004, a massive tsunami swept across a large part of Sri Lanka, leaving thousands homeless, orphaned or without jobs.

As the official religion of the country, Buddhism colors nearly all aspects of society. It is followed by 72 percent of Sri Lanka's 19 million people, with Christians and Muslims each comprising 8 percent. For the past several years, a growing disillusionment with Buddhism has caused many to consider the claims of Christ. This trend is significant enough that Buddhist leaders are lobbying the government to pass laws against Christian conversion and to restrict the building of churches.

Only 1,000 villages in Sri Lanka have a Gospel witness, leaving 35,000 villages yet to be reached. Gospel for Asia's goal is to plant a church in every village.

Gospel for Asia in Sri Lanka:
• Personal evangelism
• Church planting
• A Bible college
• Film ministry
• Gospel literature production and distribution
• Radio broadcasts in Sinhala and Tamil
• Compassion Ministries
• Bridge of Hope