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.

In June, Buddhist extremists staged a large anti-Christian rally in Middeniya to expose what they called 'the great conspiracy'. After a similar meeting in a public school, students beat up a Christian classmate. Previously, Buddhist militants ordered shopkeepers to stop selling food to Christians.

News agency Compass Direct reports that anti-Christian sentiment is spreading, with banners now appearing in other districts.
Compass reports that scores of attacks have been launched against Christians over the past six years, as Buddhist radicals continue to press for new laws that will prevent Christians from converting someone to another faith.

The laws - modelled on those gaining ground in India - would prevent conversion by force, allurement or fraud.

"That may sound reasonable," says Andy Dipper, Release International's CEO, "but in practice charity work would be held as allurement, and talk of a saviour as fraud, while any reference to sin, judgement or punishment could be construed as force.

"The basic human right of Christians to worship must be upheld, along with their freedom to speak about their faith. The authorities must act to protect its citizens from militant extremists - whose violent brand of intolerance seems to be gaining ground.'

Fear and insecurity are fuelled by the continuing conflict between Sri Lanka's Tamil and Sihalese communities. Observers say anti-Christian elements are stoking those fears to provoke attacks against Christians.

In February, gunmen murdered a Sri Lankan pastor and shot his wife. The Christians believe militant Buddhist elements were behind the attack, while those under suspicion point the finger at Tamil terrorists.

This is a pattern repeated worldwide where there is civil conflict. Christian minorities are often viewed with ignorance and suspicion and accused of siding with 'the enemy'. Militant opponents then exploit those tensions to try to drive out the Christian presence.

"It's a form of racism that's needs to be prevented by the force of law," says Andy Dipper, "and where suspicion turns to hostility, the rights of minorities need to be protected." More than two-thirds of Sri-Lankans are Buddhists, while Christians make up less than ten per cent of the population.

Release International has been supporting churches in rural areas, including pastors and their families, and is helping church members set up businesses which will raise funds for their churches. Release has also helped build a safe house for victims of persecution.

Through its international network of missions Release International supports Christians imprisoned for their faith and their families in 30 nations. It supports church workers, pastors and their families, and provides training, Bibles, Christian literature and broadcasts. Release International is a member of the UK organisations Global Connections, the Evangelical Alliance and the Micah Network.