From Benjamin Chan, Area Director of East and South Asia –

You have probably read that on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka, a wave of seemly coordinated bombings “targeted Roman Catholic houses of worship — St. Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo, the capital; St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo; and Zion Church in Batticaloa — along with three luxury hotels: the Shangri-La, the Cinnamon Grand, and the Kingsbury, all in Colombo – a total of 8 churches and hotels (a recent count)

(See Sri Lanka Bombings Live Updates: ‘It Was a River of Blood’ https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/21/world/asia/sri-lanka-explosion.html)

“The death toll has risen to at least 350 people and wounded more than 500 others on Easter Sunday, according to officials”

Ben Chan has been in touch with officers of the Sri Lanka Baptist Sangamaya (Union of Baptist Churches) and a Christian NGO LEADS to understand the situation and to convey our concern and prayer. Ben is also in touch with the Chinese Baptist Church in Colombo, which is a ministry of the Union.

Ben and an IM team was planning to visit churches and theological seminaries in Sri Lanka next week, but the team canceled the visit at the advice of our partners.

Rev. Heshan de Silva, the President of the Union asks American Baptist churches to pray for the country.

“Please continue to pray for our country. According to Government sources more than 350 people are dead, out of these about 30 are foreigners, nearly 500 people are injured. Please uphold these families. Nine explosions occurred in eight places. We need God’s special intervention at this moment; especially that people will stay calm and quiet at this hour.

The people who are responsible for this brutal attack will be brought in front of the law and do the Justice to affected families.”