In a further escalation of anti-Christian violence in Sri Lanka, Buddhist monks have destroyed a church in Thalahena, and attacked a pastor and church workers , with the police were powerless to stop them, reports persecution watchdog Release International.
The first indication that trouble was brewing came when the pastor prepared for the Sunday service at Calvary Church, Thalahena, Malabe, north-east of the principal city, Colombo. He noticed the cross was damaged and called in the police.
The service began as planned with 100 church members in attendance but later five Buddhist monks burst in and demanded that the service be stopped, according to reports.
At the same time bells began sounding in surrounding Buddhist temples, as a rumour was spread that Christians had attacked the temple.
The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) says the rumour was false. But a mob of 500 villagers descended on Calvary church and surrounded it.
An NCEASL spokesman said: "Fearing violence, the pastor and the police sent away the congregation. Soon after the mob - including the monks - entered the church and completely destroyed everything within, leaving only the walls standing.
"The mob then turned on the pastor and five workers, beating them with clubs and rods. A police officer who attempted to shield the pastor also received blows."
The NCEASL is in partnership with Release International, which serves persecuted Christians in 30 nations.
According to the NCEASL the pastor and his father were both injured and had to be taken to hospital. The police carried out arrests, but the following day a large mob gathered at the temple and made their way to the police station demanding the release of those arrested.
The church attack took place on July 6. Three days earlier, in Middeniya, in southern Sri Lanka, arsonists attacked the home of an Assemblies of God pastor while he and his family were sleeping. They piled up tyres outside the door of his house and set them ablaze. The family woke up and were able to put out the fire. The pastor and his family have been threatened for some time.
