Christian churches come under attack in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka, a nation many believe heading for an all out war with the minority Tamils, also facing crisis within. In less than a month three Christian churches were attacked in Southern Sri Lanka, opening up a new front for conflict.

The churches were attacked as a result of incitement by Hard-line Buddhist monks. One incident reported on May 6 when a Buddhist monk led a mob to a site where members of the United Christian Fellowship in Poddala, Southern Galle district, had begun building a community hall on a land they had purchased in the village.

The monk threatened the pastor and the construction workers, according to church sources. The mob shouted that they would set fire to the building if construction continued. Although the pastor told them that it was to be a community hall, and not a church, this failed to cool tempers, the sources further said. The construction is on hold due to fears of further attack.

On another incident on April 30, Buddhist monks led another mob against a Methodist church in Piliyandala, south-east of Capital Colombo. Worshippers said that monks and followers prevented them from entering the church for Sunday mass. The mob set car tires on fire on the road outside the church to frighten people away from the building, according to local people.

When church members phoned the police, about 30 policemen arrived but said they could do nothing until they received instructions from their superintendent. Church members were advised to make an official complaint, noting that the police had advised them not to hold the service in the interests of maintaining peace.

Similarly, an Assembly of God church has faced intense opposition, also in Piliyandala. Villagers launched a poster campaign in April, threatening mass protests if the church did not close down. On April 9, a small crowd of 24 people gathered outside the church and chanted Buddhist prayers.

According to the National Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka, this is the same church that was bombed and completely burned to the ground on September 25, 2003. As the North and east of the Island nation become the focus of increasing conflict and a fear of all out war, the extremist also stepping up the violence and intermediation against the Christian in the South as well, according many observers.

Many Buddhist monks belong to the extremist Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) or National Heritage Party which is introduced one of the two dangerous anti-conversion bills that are currently under review in parliament.