Sri Lanka's Christians experience 'dramatic' rise in violence - CSW

Christians in Sri Lanka have seen a "dramatic" increase in violence within the last month, according to reports from the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL).

On 3 March the Zion Mount Prayer House in Mulaitivu District was set on fire. The pastor, his wife, child and two other people were inside at the time, although it is believed they were able to escape, reports Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

The previous day ten Bible School students in Lunuwila, Putlam District, were attacked by ten masked men on motorbikes. The attack occurred as the students of the Believers Church Bible College were walking from the railway station at 7pm. They were beaten, kicked and attacked with rods. More attackers arrived in a van and dragged one student into the vehicle, where he was beaten and kicked. Nine students were treated in hospital for injuries.

On the same day, a mob of 200 people surrounded a local pastor's home in Udugama, Galle District, and told him to leave the village or face death. The crowd also referred to the ethnicity of his wife, who is a Tamil, and warned that his Church, Opma Bible Ministry, could be accused of complicity with terrorism. In early February three men armed with clubs came to the Sunday school and threatened the church.

These attacks are the latest in a series of incidents since the beginning of February. On 17 February, Pastor Neil Edirisinghe was shot dead. His wife was also shot and wounded, and she remains in a critical condition. On the same day, a mob of 50 people armed with rods attacked King's Revival Church in Mathugama, Kaluthara District, and assaulted a 10-year-old child, one man and two women.

On 14 February a Christian home in Weeraketiya, Hambanthota District, was stoned while the local pastor, his wife and two children were inside visiting a sick parishioner.

In addition to violence, Christians are facing other forms of harassment. On 3 March, the 'Pradeshiya Sabhawa' (Provincial Council) in Kelaniya, Gampaha District revoked approval for the construction of a new church building. The Foursquare Gospel Church had received approval for the new building, but was then ordered to stop construction immediately. No reason was given.

Alexa Papadouris, Advocacy Director at Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said: "The recent severe escalation in violence is deeply troubling. Although there have been similar periods of hostility towards Christians in Sri Lanka in the past, acts of violence had significantly decreased in the last two years.

"We urge the Sri Lankan authorities to take immediate action to quell this new upsurge of attacks, bring the perpetrators of violence to justice, and to ensure that a climate of impunity does not develop."