Incident Reports

The following are some of the incidents of violence against Christians since Christmas 2003. Many others have gone unreported.

15th -30th January 2004
Incident Reports >>

Date

Area

Church

Description

15th Jan.	Weliweriya, Gampaha Dist	AoG Church	Christian denied burial at public cemetery. Police informed and a Magistrate's order issued to allow burial. Hundreds of people led by monks prevent entry to cemetery. Large number of Policemen deployed but unable to facilitate entry for burial. Family compelled to bury the diseased in family garden.
15th Jan.	Homagama	Catholic Church	Interior of church set on fire. (earlier desecrated on 30th Nov. 2003). Reported on Sirasa & MTV news on 16th Jan.
16th Jan.	Thalapathpitiya	Calvary Church	A trishaw parked in the premises set on fire. Door of Church damaged.
16th Jan.	Dematagoda	Calvary Church	Attempt to burn down church at 12.45 am. Window damaged.
16th Jan.	Yakkalamulla, Galle	Calvary Church	Stones thrown at Church, roof damaged.
16th Jan.	Kottawa	Calvary Church	Mob threatens Church members meeting at premises belonging to a parishioner.
18th Jan.	Hokandara	Catholic Church	A group of about ten invaded the Church in the early morning and set fire to the main door by using tires. With the help of police and people, the fire was extinguished, stopping it from spreading into the Church.
20th Jan.	Horana	Foursquare Gospel Church	House of Pastor surrounded by a group dressed in black from 11pm to 4 am, shouting at the inmates. Only the Pastor's wife and 14yr old daughter were at home.
25th Jan.	Mathugama	Kings Revival Church	Four attackers broke in to the Pastor's home at night, tied him up and assaulted him. Police have been informed.
25th Jan.	Makola	Bethany Church (Independent)	Church was stoned damaging the building.
26th Jan.	Maththegoda	Catholic Shrine "Church of our Mother most pure"	A mob of about 20 persons attached the Church at night. Sacred statues were smashed and Bibles were set on fire. The mob arrived in vehicles, dressed in black and white. No arrests were made. The Police reportedly claimed it to be the work of drunks. Church authorise say this attack fits the pattern of the organized attacks that have taken place in surrounding areas.