The Situation is Dire: Let's Pray for Sri Lanka
09-28-2022
By Sonali De Mel
How do I start my experience? As a mother of two Children, I don't have words to explain the situation of the people who live here. But let me put it this way. Sri Lanka is a small, beautiful country with a small population surrounded by water. Although our country is small, the entire world knows we face a dire situation. We are currently experiencing a critical crisis. Lack of food, medicine, and high prices of goods have become the main problems we face today.
Many people in our country meet their daily needs by waiting in long lines even for more than one day! My grandparents told me that there had been lines in the past in our country for various reasons. I never imagined that lines would happen again in my country. Most of my time is spent on gas (for vehicles) and cooking gas lines. I have received many experiences in my life waiting in those lines. I saw rich and poor, Sinhala and Tamil, and all religious people standing in lines to fulfill their needs.
Thankfully, many people also help each other while waiting in those lines. For example, someone brings and serves coffee to the waiting people in the line during the night or someone brings something to eat and share with others. These are all the good things I saw while in the lines. The terrible side was the stress on people, who were under tremendous pressure. People fight because of this pressure, and quite a few die while standing in those lines.
Additionally, the cost of living has outrageously skyrocketed and the Sri Lankan rupee value is decreasing daily. There is also an acute shortage of medicine in hospitals for patients, lack of food for young children and adults. Schools have been closed due to the fuel crisis. It is impossible to explain the situation we are currently facing as a nation. Amidst all these obstacles, human beings are moving forward, hoping the future will improve.
We blame politicians and the political system for the crisis we are facing, because we think they are largely responsible for the current situation. But I also believe that everyone in the country is responsible for this crisis. As Christians, we are accountable to God. I'm questioning whether I have ever tried to kneel before God and plead mercy for my country. Instead of praying to God and obeying his commandments, we do many things. I'm not saying we shouldn't raise our voices against corrupt politics and politicians.
Yes, we must raise our voices, but as Christians, firstly, we must come before God and pray because Jesus Christ is alive among us. Judges 3: 9 says, "But when the Israelites cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the Israelites who delivered them, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother." Therefore, we must raise our voices to God, and God will do His part on our behalf.
Sonali De Mel is the wife to Rajitha De Mel. She is at the center in the family photo above, with their daughter Rihashni (left) and son Reshin (center front) and Rajitha (right)