Sri Lanka (MNN) — Food insecurity in Sri Lanka will get worse without urgent assistance, aid agencies warn. The World Food Programme issued a joint statement with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. On top of economic woes, the country has seen two poor harvests.
Economic woes
Galen Burkholder with Global Disciples says, “The United Nations says that more than a quarter of the 22 million people in this island country, which is just about the size of West Virginia, are struggling just to get enough food to survive.”
“Other hotspots are dominating the news like Ukraine and others. Yet the desperation keeps growing in Sri Lanka.”
The Sri Lankan Global Disciples team finds themselves caught up in the food and fuel shortages. People often wait for hours in line to get basic necessities.
Still, their team’s most urgent request is prayer. God does the impossible when His people pray.
Pray for Gospel opportunities for Global Disciples in Sri Lanka. As believers continue to show God’s love to their neighbors, Burkholder says, “It’s becoming known to many Sri Lankan people that followers of Jesus don’t just look out for themselves. They care even when there is very little to provide.”
Burkholder has heard some amazing stories of this provision. “People are moving around their communities, simply trying to provide assistance, often as simple as a bicycle tire.”
Growing Church
Burkholder says many people are becoming Christians across Sri Lanka, both in the predominantly Muslim North and Buddhist South.
In southern Sri Lanka, a Karate master became a Christian and went through Global Disciples training. Burkholder says, “He started doing karate classes, and a whole group of young Buddhist monks came and joined the karate class. He noticed one of them was struggling, and he talked to him.”
The young monk eventually became a Christian and began sharing about Jesus while still wearing his traditional robes.
Ask God to strengthen the followers of Jesus in Sri Lanka. You can also support them financially through Global Disciples.
Sri Lanka is highlighted in red. (Photo courtesy of Pixabay)
IMF digs into Sri Lanka’s debt crisis
Sri Lanka (MNN) — On Friday, Sri Lanka’s government will describe the country’s economic woes in detail on a call with International Monetary Fund creditors. Officials struck a preliminary debt relief deal earlier this month.
Sri Lanka faces its worst political and economic crisis since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. Political, economic, and social unrest peaked this summer, making fuel and food almost impossible to find.
“The International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank have promised to support Sri Lanka,” Pastor Clarence from FARMS Lanka says.
“That’s good because otherwise, it will be more suffering for the people.”
FARMS Lanka partners with FARMS International to help believers in need. Pastor Clarence says church leaders report a slight decrease in pressure following the IMF relief announcement on September 1.
“It’s a little [easier] because at least everybody can get a quota [of fuel]. Recently, the government has given us a little more for travel to our stations,” he explains.
However, “the struggle is still there. There are anti-government protests, the parliamentarians’ chaos, and political unrest.”
Clarence, FARMS Lanka Director, delivers relief aid to needy families.
(Photo courtesy of FARMS International)
Increased needs
Usually, FARMS Lanka helps believers work their way out of poverty through a microcredit program that supports the local church. More about that here. Since Sri Lanka’s crises affect life at every level, ministry leaders now focus on helping people survive another day.
Sri Lanka’s “malnutrition rate of the children has risen 460 percent,” Pastor Clarence says.
“Because of that, now we are supporting churches, especially the Sunday school children, with rice, dahl, and sugar.”
Pray believers can find relief from this season’s economic pressure and financial hardship. Ask the Lord to provide for them in miraculous ways.
“We are doing self-employment. Now, there is no material coming [for people to produce goods,]” Pastor Clarence says.
Additionally, “because of the fuel prices, they can’t transport their goods or harvest to the market” to sell for income.
When Sri Lankan Christians see only challenges, pray God will help them trust in Him.
Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Mohit Kulkarni/Pexels.
Country Info
About Sri Lanka
- Primary Language: Sinhala
- Primary Religion: Buddhism
- Evangelical: 1.2%
More News About Sri Lanka
Info About Sri Lanka
Data from the Joshua Project
| Phone: 218-416-1961 Web site |
FARMS International
P.O. Box 270
Knife River, MN
55609
Call to action
- Pray believers can find relief from the economic pressure and financial hardship of this season. Ask the Lord to provide for them in miraculous ways.
- When Sri Lankan Christians see only challenges, pray God will help them trust in Him.