Assembly of God Church attacked:
For the past three months, the Assembly of God Church in Kesbewa, Sri Lanka, has
been subjected to threats and attacks, including broken windows and bottles of burning
oil thrown into the church building. In response, the church has made sure that someone
is at their building at all times to guard it. VOM learned today from the Evangelical
Alliance of Sri Lanka that, on the night of August 14, Pastor Kumara and two other church
members were keeping watch when two motorcycles stopped and four men in black
dismounted. Pastor Kumara heard one of them say, "paththu karannna" (light it) and,
fearing that the church building was about to be set on fire, shouted and ran toward the
men along with one of the church members, Narada. As the men ran away, one of them
threw a home-made bomb, which exploded, badly injuring Narada. The pastor escaped
with only minor wounds.
A police investigation has begun and an inquiry is scheduled for August 22. According to
the pastor, the main suspect in orchestrating this and the other attacks is the
Kamburupitiya Chief Buddhist Monk, who wields considerable power in the community. In
September 2002, the monk visited the church and threatened the pastor and members
with death. The police have summoned him several times in connection with previous
incidents at the church, but he has refused to speak with them. It is reported that he has
been ordered to appear at the inquiry on August 22.
For the past three months, the Assembly of God Church in Kesbewa, Sri Lanka, has
been subjected to threats and attacks, including broken windows and bottles of burning
oil thrown into the church building. In response, the church has made sure that someone
is at their building at all times to guard it. VOM learned today from the Evangelical
Alliance of Sri Lanka that, on the night of August 14, Pastor Kumara and two other church
members were keeping watch when two motorcycles stopped and four men in black
dismounted. Pastor Kumara heard one of them say, "paththu karannna" (light it) and,
fearing that the church building was about to be set on fire, shouted and ran toward the
men along with one of the church members, Narada. As the men ran away, one of them
threw a home-made bomb, which exploded, badly injuring Narada. The pastor escaped
with only minor wounds.
A police investigation has begun and an inquiry is scheduled for August 22. According to
the pastor, the main suspect in orchestrating this and the other attacks is the
Kamburupitiya Chief Buddhist Monk, who wields considerable power in the community. In
September 2002, the monk visited the church and threatened the pastor and members
with death. The police have summoned him several times in connection with previous
incidents at the church, but he has refused to speak with them. It is reported that he has
been ordered to appear at the inquiry on August 22.
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