The Pastor has been receiving anonymous threatening phone calls. The Church members face verbal abuse from villagers while on their way to the Sunday service.

The Sunday worship service was held as usual. During the service the Pastor became aware that there was a mob of about 50 persons gathered on the road leading to the Church, putting up anti-Christian posters. They were armed with rods. Fearing for the safety of the congregation, the Pastor instructed the congregation to leave in small batches. The mob hurled verbal abuse and threats at the passing congregation members. Some barred their way, pushing and pulling them. One man and a child of 10 years were assaulted and 2 women were manhandled and pulled by their hair. Some members of the congregation who belonged to the Tamil ethnic community were threatened that if they returned to the Church, they would be arrested and imprisoned.

The incident was reported to the Mathugama Police. The response was slow and the Pastor was asked to come for an inquiry on the 18th of February. The Pastor requested for protection for the following Sunday service, both verbally and in writing. However, the request was not granted. No arrests have been made.

10 students of the Believers Church Bible College were walking from the Lunuwila Railway station at approximately 7 pm when they were met by a member of the Wennappuwa Pradeshiya Sabhawa (Provincial Council) who inquired as to their destination. The students continued on their way to the Bible College . They were accosted by a group of about 10 men on motorcycles, wearing masks who assaulted the students. They were beaten with fists and rods and kicked. More attackers arrived in a van and dragged one of the students in to the van where he was beaten very badly and kicked by a person wearing boots. The attackers left the injured students on the road and left. One of the students ran to the Bible College . He was followed by one motorcyclist who assaulted the security guard at the College and escaped.

It is reported that the Provincial Council member had later arrived at the gate of the College and threatened that the Bible College will not be allowed to function for more than a week. A complaint was made to the Koswatte Police on the same day. 2 of the attackers were identified. 9 students were treated for injuries at the  Lunuwila Government Hospital. 3 of these were transferred to the Marawila hospital for additional treatment. 

Previously, in early February 2008, three men armed with clubs arrived at the Sunday school conducted by the Church and threatened the Church.

The attack took place on Mallaavi – Vavnnikku’lam road in Vanni near the Kuzhanthai Jesus Church at Vannivilaangku'lam at around 12.30pm on Sunday. It is reported that Father Karunaratnam used the road frequently as his residential prayer and counseling centre is located in Vavunnikku’lam and his vehicle was well known to those in the area.

Father Karunaratnam spoke up on behalf of human rights of the civilian population in the North East and also provided psychosocial counseling to those affected by the war and the Tsunami.

Father Karunaratnam is the third founder member of NESoMR to be killed. Two of the eleven founder members of NESoMR who were also Parliamentarians of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) were killed in 2005. They were Mr. A Chandra Nehru MP for Ampara District and a local preacher of the Methodist Church and Mr. M. Joseph Pararajasingham, MP for Batticaloa, a devoute Catholic who was gunned down while inside the Church on Christmas eve.