Violence Against Christians Escalates in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan Christians are facing more intense persecution as the trend of mob violence continues to spread in the country.
by Daniel Blake
Posted: Monday, November 27, 2006, 10:16 (GMT)
Sri Lankan Christians are facing more intense persecution as mob violence becomes an increasingly seen trend in the country, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has told Christian Today.
As fighting between the Sri Lankan army and Tamil rebels continues, mob violence against churches and individuals across the country has increased dramatically.
On 22 November 2006, the Lighthouse Church, Mawatura, Gompola in Kandy District, was attacked while the pastor and a church worker were inside. Rocks were thrown at the building, shattering the front window, and the church worker was seriously injured when a rock hit him on the head, CSW report.
Ten days earlier, on 12 November 2006, members of the congregation of the Assemblies of God Church in Yakkala, Gampaha District, were prevented from attending a church service by a mob of over 100 people, some of whom were armed with clubs.
Four Buddist monks accompanied the crowd of attackers and anti-Christian posters had appeared on the walls. Only two policemen were sent to the scene initially, but they were unable to control the crowd. They had to ask for re-enforcements twice before twelve other officers arrived, says CSW.
Four days later, a young woman from the congregation had a container of black oil thrown over her as she travelled to the home of the pastor and his wife, Christian Today has been told.
The church had been threatened in a similar manner two weeks earlier. However, one major concern remains the reaction of the local authorities, as in this instance police protection was not provided at all despite previous assurances. The church has temporarily stopped holding services as a result of developments.
In Kandy District on 12 November, the Sunday service at Mizpah Prayer Ministry was disrupted by a crowd of 35 people who were accompanied by 12 Buddhist monks and a Provincial Council member. The church's pastor reported that the mob threatened to flatten the building if the congregation gathered together to worship again, CSW has reported to Christian Today.
On the same day, four members of the Prayer Tower, Anamaduwa in Puttlam District, were threatened by a group of men as they returned from a funeral. They were told not to return to the village and were hit with fists and rocks.
CSW's Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas, tells: "At a time when ethnic violence is escalating in Sri Lanka, this recent spate of religiously motivated attacks is particularly discouraging. We call upon the authorities in Sri Lanka to ensure that all citizens have the opportunity to practice their chosen religion with out fear of harassment by mobs and urge all faith communities to show tolerance and respect for one another."
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Have your say on this article
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Monday, January 21, 2008, 17:47 (GMT)
Religious conversion is a serious problem in Sri Lanka. The reason is that most people here subscribe to a belief free of gods or other supernaural agencies. In such cases numerous Christians attempt to entice impoverished peasants to convert through the promise of money etc.
I am not trying to justify the violence that you have described, it is utter senseless and barbaric, but the total picture is far more complex.
Please visit the following link for more info:
http://216.24.172.107/item_display.php?type=ARTICLES&id=1058908729
suren, Puttlam, Sri Lanka
Added: Saturday, March 24, 2007, 19:18 (GMT)
I am married to a Sri Lankan women, we are christians and have a home and plantation in Sri Lanka. I am quite often in Sri lanka, and by my relatives I see that most Budhist are not true to their faith to start with, and many share in with Catholic events. I am quite amused by Monks with mobile phones, and asking for money on the streets. The problem is their is no true Buddhism in Sri Lanka, monks should be praying for their Temple members, and not collecting gangs for destructive behaviors, because they are now resembling the Muslims Terrorist activities, and could someday be put on a list of dangeroous people.
I believe the comman Budhist is a loving kind person (if they follow the ways of Budda), but the radical extremism is changing the ways the people think, and it mocks Islam, so I find it interesting to compare since I have seen the actual insane behavior in Muslim radicals, and from what i watch in Sri lanka Buddhist is the same, so their may be some sort of hybrid religion happening that can be very dangeroous. Personally I have had no problem in Sri Lanka, but know a lot of churches that have. I will keeep you posted once I start my Worship Center, but there will be no "Forced" conversion, just from their hearts. God Bless and Protect the Christians in Sri Lanka
Randy Hook, Lakebay, WA USA
Added: Tuesday, January 2, 2007, 0:39 (GMT)
Well, forced conversion and unethical conversions are different. When you walk into a house of a poor villager and offer a good quality house, free education to their children in a private school, free child care, free health service etc and etc only if they start coming to your church and stop going to the Buddhist or Hindu temple or a Catholic church, then that is unethical conversion. This is evil as it creates conflicts. A living and loving God never wants this to happen. A loving God will offer salvation to any human being who live a good life irrespective of where he worships.
Noel, Australia
Added: Tuesday, December 19, 2006, 4:06 (GMT)
Well the fact is that Christianity is a living religion with true meaning in receiving Salvation in a fallen world. The Sinhalese Buddhist extremists or other religions faith is been threatened by the fact that Christians worships a living God. The way of life in Buddhism will one day come to an end as told by Lord Buddha. There are no. unethical conversions in Christianity as you cannot force a person to receive salvation. The nature of the devil is that he will always use evil people to try to stop the Good News been preached around the world. It�s a choice and cannot be forced.
Rohitha Perera, Colombo Sri Lanka
Added: Wednesday, December 6, 2006, 5:42 (GMT)
This attempt by some LTTE supporters(like Sen) to link these incidents with a Tamil/Sinhala conflict is misleading the world. Nearly 6% of the Sinhalese are Catholics, only very small % of Tamils are Christians. Christian churches are getting attacked in Tamil (Hindu) dominated areas in Sri Lanka as well, same as in India and Muslim Pakistan. It is because the Fundermental Chritians carry out unethical conversions in all these countries.
Noel, Australia
Added: Saturday, December 2, 2006, 11:53 (GMT)
The Sinhala Buddhist Extremists are not worried about the other side of people who are Christians and Hindus. ( the Tamils are Christians and Hindus )...So the Buddists try to destroy the other religious people.
World should condemn the Sinhala Buddhist Monks who involve in this.
Economic Ban should be there on Srilanka.
Lastyear , 2005, Joseph ( a Christian Tamil MP ) was shot dead by Sinhala Terrorists .
USA Should STOP supporting the Srilankan Government.
Sen, Chennai , India
Added: Thursday, November 30, 2006, 4:33 (GMT)
These fundemental churches are disturbing the social fabric of the country by unethically converting the Buddists, Hindus and Catholics. They carry out various acts to disgrace the Budda and Hindu Gods. They are creating the problems in the Country.
Mohan Silva, Sri Lanka
Added: Tuesday, November 28, 2006, 11:23 (GMT)
The roots of the problem lie in the etno-religious Sinhala Buddhist centered constitution of Sri Lanka. The incidents affecting christian churches and congregation are encouraged by the weak enforcement of the rule of law when it comes to ethnic and religious minorities.
Saravan, UK
Added: Tuesday, November 28, 2006, 3:53 (GMT)
This happened during the current Govt. which has given asylum to the Southern Extremist (All Budhists) who wants to use each and every possible means and opportunity to hilight and expose their existence - unfortunately all these turn out to be ill fated actions. Without them the Current President and his Govt.cannot survive, hence the Govt. has no control.
Daniel, UAE
