Despite civil war, Sri Lankan seminary meets the Church’s needs

Colombo Theological Seminary (CTS) in Sri Lanka was founded in 1994 and housed in a tea-packing factory. Today, students, staff and faculty represent almost every denominational affiliation in the country, and over 95 percent of CTS' 124 graduates hold leadership positions in their local churches/organizations.

Christians face difficulty in evangelism due to the militancy of the country’s majority religions. In spite of the country’s ongoing civil war, the evangelical community is growing. Christians have been at the forefront of relief operations and poverty aid. By regularly meeting with church leaders, the seminary also adapts their academic programs to coincide with the serious needs and challenges that the Church is facing.

Through ever-adapting academic programs offered in all three national languages – Sinhala, Tamil and English – students are trained to understand the ethical boundaries of their work in their strife-ridden communities. Regular cross-ethnic ministry opportunities throughout Sri Lanka are organized through a practical training component. In addition to offering satellite classes, the seminary has two extension centers in Jaffna and Matara with a demand for extension studies in other parts of Sri Lanka as well.

Graduate Brian Priyakumar Handy has been a visiting lecturer at CTS since graduating and is the Principal of Baldeus Theological College, located in an area most affected by the war and where poverty is rampant. He says, “Whatever I do or wherever I go, CTS is very close to my heart because that is where the gift of God in me was discerned.”

Read about CTS’ new facility here.