The pastor of the Assemblies of God church in Angunukolapalassa was surrounded by a mob of over 300 villagers together with Buddhist monks, demanding he stops all worship services planned for Christmas day. The mob alleged that there was a police complaint made by a Buddhist monk against the pastor’s religious activities.
However, the pastor cited his fundamental rights and refused to stop holding services. The pastor was provided police protection from the night of the incident.
The same night, the Assemblies of God Church in Hikkaduwa was attacked by a group of unidentified assailants throwing fire crackers into the church premises and into the pastors residence adjoining the church.
At approximately at 11.30p.m., another group of unidentified assailants began to hurl stones at the Light House Church Hikkaduwa. Some minor damage was reported with glass windows being shattered by the stones.
All three pastors have lodged police complaints in the respective area police stations.
(Text of an incident report issued by the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka)
– DBS