Incident Reports

March - December 2005

Date
Area
Church
Description
27th April Batticaloa Kiran Methodist Church Fire was set to store room with supplies for tsunami relief , spreading to the rest of the buildings in the complex.  All supplies and buildings were destroyed.  Those who arrived to subdue the fire were frightened off with a hand grenade.
18th May Kesbewa, Colombo District A.O.G. A mob of approximately 500 surrounded a church service and began chanting, shouting and verbally abusing the pastor and congregation.  They demanded that the church close permanently.  After 2 1/2 hours, the pastor was taken away in a police jeep, along with the senior Buddhist monk and the mob dispersed.
18th May Halpita, Homagama Independent Church

Some members of the mob surrounding the A.O.G. church in Kesbewa went to this church, shouting abuse and demanding the church close.

18th May 28th Post, Polonnaruwa A.O.G. Sunday service disrupted by about 150 people and 6 monks.  The pastor was accused of offering money for people to convert and defamiong Buddhism. He was warned of bloodshed and death if the church was not closed.
19th May Polonnaruwa Pastors' Fellowship Pastors met with police regarding the 18th May threats against the A.O.G. Church in 28th Post.  The pastors were instructed by police to stop Christian activities and no churches in Polonnaruwa.  They were threatened with arrest for breach of peace if they continued the churches in the area.
27th May Halpita, Polgasowita Independent Church Police served a summons to a pastoral worker to appear in Kesbewa Magistrates Court on a charge of breach of the peace.
29th May Kaluvilapothane, Ambanpola Kithu Sevana Church A crowd of about 100 persons disrupted a prayer meeting and threatened the 10 Christians meeting there.  A visiting pastoral worker was warned to not return to the village.
30th May Polonnaruwa Foursquare Gospel Church
Pastor was asked to come for discussions with the Buddhist monk and community leaders from the village of Beniwewa.  The Buddhist monks and leaders asked that a church not be built in the village and the pastor not engage in evangelism.  If he confined his activities to the existing Christian families, he was welcome to stay in the area.
2nd June Batticaloa District NCEASL Alliance Institute Construction of the Alliance Institute training centre has been slow because of opposition.  On the night of 2nd June, the home of the family who gave the land for the institute was set ablaze. The family was unhurt and the fire was prevented from spreading to the entire house.
5th June Ambalangoda A.O.G. One day after a building was purchased to replace the church destroyed in the tsunami, the building was damaged with rocks, stone and bottles filled with sand.  Street lights had been switched off during the attack.
6th June Ambalangoda A.O.G. A crowd of about 100 surrounded the building at 10:00 a.m. shouting threats. By mid-afternoon, the crowd invaded the premises and brutally beat the pastor and two other men.  One received serious injuries. There was considerable damage to the property . The pastor's van was badly damaged and his wallet, ID cards and mobile phone were stolen.
7th July Kayankerny (Batticaloa District) Christian Family Church On the 7th of July 2005, at around 2 am neighbours heard sounds of explosions. Unidentified attackers have dug three holes in the ground near the  foundation of the building and detonated dynamite. The explosions caused damage to the newly built church walls, roof and floor.
16th July Patunagama (Polonnaruwa District) Roman Catholic Church On the 16th of July 2005, the Church was attacked during the night and set on fire. One of the caretakers was stabbed with a knife by the attackers.
7th August Horana (Kalutara District) Four Square Gospel Church On the 7th August 2005, the Horana Police ordered Christians from the Foursquare Gospel Church to stop meeting for worship and prayer. The verbal order was issued by the HQI (Head Quarters Inspector) after a mob threatened the worshippers on two consecutive Sundays - 31st July and 7th August 2005. Worshippers also told not to meet in a different location for worship. They are unable to meet for worship and prayer anymore.
20th December Hopton, Reindapola in Lunugala (Uva Province) On the 20th of December, a Christian man by the name of Karunaratne from Hopton, Reindapola in Lunugala (Uva Province) was denied burial at the local public cemetery. The pastor of the deceased and his family were told by local Buddhists that he cannot be buried in the local burial grounds as he is a Christian. The Police were asked for assistance. The family were finally allowed to bury the deceased, after NCEASL intervened.
25th December Alawwa (Kurunegala District)
King's Revival Church On Christmas day (25th December 2005), Christians attending the Christmas service were accosted by a mob of about 30 people and threatened not to go to Church. Many fled out of fear. The few who braved the mob to go to Church were beaten up. Four persons - one man and 3 women were injured. One of the women was a pregnant lady. The man was treated at the local hospital for his injuries. 

The Pastor says he was threatened not to have a service for Christmas. They have been further warned that the Church will be attacked on the 31st December. Police have been alerted to this threat and security has been requested for so that the people can attend worship service on the 31st.

© 2008 SriLankanChristians.Com