Through My African Eyes: In Solidarity with Sri Lanka
04-13-2022
By Stephen Apollo
On Friday last week, the Learning Resource and Writing Center (LRWC) hosted a presentation on the current economic and political crisis in Sri Lanka, which was done by our Sri Linka’s colleagues. McCormick has three current Sri Lankan students: Rev. Nishantha Gunasekara, Rev. Hasitha Fernando, and Rev. Rajitha De Mel. Also present was Rev Luckmal Panditharathna who is a 2020 McCormick Alumni and currently a ThM student at Lutheran School of Theology. The room was filled with a pensive mood as our colleagues painfully took us through the unfolding sad events and their political circumstances in Sri Lanka. In our troubled and hurting world, it was a privilege to show solidarity with our brothers.
To bring to speed those who have not heard about the crisis, Sri Lanka, an island nation of about 22 million people, is witnessing a worst economic and political crisis in its history. The plunging of the rupee against the US dollar, has led to an acute inflation that has sent food prices and other basic necessities like gas skyrocket to outrageous levels, leading to their acute shortages. Each day there is approximately 10-hour power rationing and there are huge lines everywhere of people trying to buy basic commodities.
This situation has led to mass protests in the capital Colombo and they have been fueled by a collective rage and fury. The protests are escalating every day and the citizens across the board have joined in the struggle: children, people living with disabilities, artists, journalists, elders, and people of all faiths, all demanding the government's resignation. Remarkably, the protests have been largely peaceful even with some forceful police interruptions. Government ministers and members of parliament are resigning en masse and the citizens are defying government curfews. Some citizens are organizing silent protest in front of churches and some are hanging banners on vehicles and buildings.
As Sri Lanka goes through this period of anger, pain, uncertainty, and despair, we stand with them in solidarity. We stand with them as they challenge the powers that be and we join them in saying “let my people go!” In this Holy Week, we pray for hope for their uncertain future. We pray for help to the suffering, the old, the sick and pregnant women. We pray that the vision of God’s reign; a reign of justice and peace will be realized in Sri Lanka and through the hope of the resurrection, the nation will be reborn.
Lord in your mercy hear our plea.
