In response to the violence facing Christians in recent months, the Sri Lankan authorities have set up local peace committees involving the local police, Buddhist monks and Christian clergy. The purpose of these committees is to peacefully resolve issues to prevent further violence. However, according to a report received on February 2 from the Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (EASL), it is becoming common for Christian clergy to be verbally abused and threatened during these meetings. During the meetings, police have ordered churches to stop meeting unless they are registered with the government, even though registration is not required by law. Christians were told that they could not meet in homes for prayer unless they are residents of the home, despite constitutional guarantees to the contrary. As a result of these threats, some of the pastors have stopped all services.
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Church Attacked in Mattegoda |
On January 25, a pastor in Mathugama was bound, blindfolded and assaulted when four men broke into his house at night. That same evening, in Makola, the Bethany Church was stoned and the roof damaged.
In Homagama, a pastor who has been under police protection since December was threatened with death if he did not leave the town. Two men walked into his house, while a police constable was present, and threatened him at knife-point.
Pray that Sri Lankan Christians will have the legal protection afforded them under the law. Pray for strength and continued endurance in the face of the pressure and dangers facing the Church in Sri Lanka.
For more information on problems facing Christians in Sri Lanka, go to www.vomcanada.com/srilanka.htm.
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