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Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels and the government they have sought to topple for 20 years are marking a two-year cease-fire anniversary. Peace in the island nation, however, remains fragile.

Certain extremist religious groups are pursuing an anti-Christian stance. Tension among Sri Lanka’s Christians remains high, especially in small, isolated communities, says Godfrey Yogarajah, general secretary of the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka. Many fear death, violence and destruction of their property. Some have fled into hiding after violent attacks. Churches in Colombo suburbs have faced attacks and threats. A mob of protesters invaded the World Vision office in the heart of Colombo in late 2003.

Christians Under Suspicion Ethnic strife fueled the civil war, but in Sri Lanka, Buddhism is seen as the Sinhalese religion, and Hinduism is seen as the Tamils’. To be Sinhalese means being Buddhist. Christianity is the only religion with members from both communities, Yogarajah reports. “For this reason we are often viewed with suspicion by our own ethnic groups,” he said. Under pressure to resolve the civil war and to appease the majority, Christians fear the government may sacrifice their rights.

Hostilities against Christians have always existed, but in 1991 the government responded to calls for investigating non-government organizations in Sri Lanka by setting up a commission. The commission summoned Christians and Christian leaders for questioning. The negative publicity from commission reports gave rise to a hate campaign against Christians in which churches were attacked and burned, Yogarajah says.

Buddhist Nationalism Also, a wave of converts to Christianity has alarmed Buddhist monks, who lose power and alms when people leave Buddhism, reports Paul Borthwick of the Colorado Springs, Colo.- based ministry Development Associates International. Borth-wick returned in late 2003 from teaching Christians in Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s new constitution favors Buddhism but also states that individuals may manifest a religion. A supreme court judge recently ruled that religious propagation is not a right guaranteed under the constitution.

Police seldom act in favor of persecuted Christians. In one incident, a church tried to report an attack by radical Buddhists, but the police said they couldn’t write up a report because they “had no paper.”

Buddhist nationalists are accusing Christians of destroying Sinhalese culture. “Christians are seen as non-patriotic and destructive to the cultural framework of Sri Lanka,” Borthwick said. This nationalism also may be the root of anti-conversion laws that could be enacted in Sri Lanka, modeled on similar laws that passed in November 2002 in India’s Tamil Nadu State. No bills have been introduced yet, but the government’s minister of Hindu affairs supports the idea under the pretext of creating religious harmony for the sake of public justice.

”The danger of this type of restrictive legislation is that the provisions are often open to interpretation when applied by the courts, and it lends itself to all kinds of abuses to harass and intimidate minority religious groups,” Yogarajah said.

Buddhist “spies” are being sent into Christian worship services. Others are surfing the Internet for evidence of Christian plans to evangelize Buddhists. The Buddhist Times newspaper repeatedly publishes inflammatory language against Christians and criticizes “unethical conversions,” Borthwick said.

Yogarajah sees the anti-Christian activity as no surprise and says their plight is worsening.

Suffering, But Stronger But Christians are accepting their hardships almost in stride. A Tamil student in Borthwick’s class told of being falsely accused of terrorism in 1997 and imprisoned for 16 months because of his ethnicity. In horrid prison conditions and in the face of repeated beatings, he led 14 people to Christ.

Borthwick asked his Sri Lankan students how persecution has affected them and their ministries. Among their answers:

• “A strong handful of Christians are being witnesses to Christ and evangelizing even the most radical Buddhists.” • “Christians in the oppressed areas are standing strong to show the love of Christ.” • “The opposition has caused us to ask questions: what have we done to cause such opposition? Have we failed in showing Christ’s love to our neighbors?” • “Even some radical Buddhist priests have become Christians.” • “Christians have started to pray deeply and the churches are being united.” • “The situation has made me stronger, more determined to show them the love of Christ, to the point that we are prepared even to die for him.”

Global Advocacy Yogarajah says that the worldwide body of Christ can help. In addition to supporting Christians who have become destitute because of persecution, Yogarajah asks believers to start advocating on behalf of Sri Lanka’s Christians “to ensure the rights of the Christians and stop this spate of violence.”

“Pray for the Christians in Sri Lanka. We are a very small minority in our land,” he said. “It will encourage people who are facing violence and persecution to know that they are not alone; that they are thought of and prayed for; that the worldwide church stands with them.”