Church Buildings Destroyed in Fire, Mobs Threaten Churches

Just before midnight on April 27, a group of unidentified people broke into the premises of the Kiran Methodist Church in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.  In the compound were the church building, the home of the pastor, a newly constructed building for relief work and other buildings used for storing relief and reconstruction supplies.

According to Rev. Dr. Albert W. Jebanesan, the fire began in a store room filled with tsunami relief supplies and spread to the other buildings.  While no one was injured, all the supplies and buildings were destroyed.  When neighbours and the army rushed in to put out the fire, the attackers threw a hand grenade to frighten the people and then fled the area.

According to a report posted on the website for the Lincoln and Grimsby District of the Methodist Church of Great Britain, the minister had received threats a few weeks earlier, calling on him to stop relief activities.  He was accused of using this relief for religious conversion.  Convinced that this was not true, the pastor did not take the threats seriously.

Accusations such as those made against the Kiran Methodist Church are common in Sri Lanka and have led to renewed calls for legislation against "forcible conversions" by Buddhist leaders.  The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief of the Commission on Human Rights, Asma Jahangir, recently completed a visit to Sri Lanka and expressed her concerns at a news conference in Colombo on May 12.  Her complete report is yet to be submitted.  A transcript of her news conferences statement is available online (click here).

Sunday, May 15 brought threats against three churches as mobs led by Buddhist monks surrounded the buildings, demanding that they permanently close.  In Kesbewa, the pastor received information before the morning service that a protest march was planned.  Police provided security as the congregation met.  This church was completely destroyed in September 2003.  A few months ago, the congregation began meeting in the burnt shell of the building.  Some of those from this protest are also reported to have gone to another church in Homagama and shouted demands that the congregation stop meeting.

One of the granite Buddhas at the Polonnaruwa citadel

The morning service of the Assembly of God Church in the Polonnaruwa District of Sri Lanka was also disrupted when a mob of approximately 150 people, led by six Buddhist monks, accused the pastor of offering money for people to convert.  The pastor was warned that if he did not close down the church, there could be bloodshed.  Polonnaruwa is a sacred site for Buddhists, with a citadel dating back to the tenth century.

Pray for the Kiran Methodist Church as they begin the process of rebuilding.  Pray for Christians throughout Sri Lanka who are facing threats of violence.  Pray for wisdom for Sri Lanka's legislators, as they debate the proposed legislation.

For more information on the persecution of the Church in Sri Lanka, click here.