Sri Lankan Churches attacked as Buddhism proposed as State Religion

On December 2nd in the village of Kammalawa in Sri Lanka, a church pastor was approached by an aggressive group of more than 100 people and told to stop holding worship services. The pastor, preaching in western Sri Lanka, was told that if he did not immediately close down the church that they would kill him.

Later that night the church was attacked, and came under a barrage of stones and rocks. In the attack the church roof was severely damaged and other doors and windows also damaged. As a consequence of the violence three people were taken into custody by local authorities.

The 'Assembly of God Church' in Yakkala, which lies just 26km north of the country’s capital Colombo has been under a constant wave of attacks, which has seen people throwing excrement at the walls and even last month the church walls had engine oil poured over them.

In addition, trouble continues in Sri Lanka for the Christian minority after it was recently announced by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) party that it was proposing a Bill for Buddhism to be officially declared the state religion.

The Bill's purpose has been stated as "A Bill to amend the Constitution of Sri Lanka; to provide for declaration of Buddhism as the official religion of the Republic; to provide for binding persons practicing Buddhism to bring up their offspring in the same (faith); to provide for prohibiting conversion of Buddhists; to provide for establishing a council to advise the President on such matters and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto."

However, the Bill also does state that other religions may be practiced; however, these must be "in peace and harmony with Buddha Sasana".

Freedom of worship of all other religions except Buddhism is controlled by Section 9.5 which explicitly prohibits the converting of Buddhists to other worship forms, or to "spread other forms of worship among the Buddhists."

Further persecutions and violence towards Christians in the country are also expected in the run-up to December 12th, which will mark the first anniversary of the death of Buddhist monk, the Venerable Gangodawila Soma Thero. In the aftermath of his funeral last year on Christmas Eve dozens of churches were attacked.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide's partners, the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka reported, "There appears to be a deliberate attempt to re-kindle anti-Christian sentiments, disrupting the celebration of Christmas by the Christian community. There may also be those who wish to monopolise on this situation and create trouble. Please pray for the Church and for Sri Lanka."

The National Director of CSW, Stuart Windsor said, "The church in Sri Lanka continues to face attacks from Buddhist extremists. Not only so such extremists cause suffering to Christians meeting for church services, but they are also looking to challenge Sri Lanka’s constitution to make Buddhism the state religion. CSW condemns all such extremist violence and calls on the Sri Lankan government to protect religious freedom for all."