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Religious intolerance hits a new high

By Shezna Shums

In a shocking incident unknown assailants burnt down the Assembly Of God (AOG) church at Kesbewa last Thursday at around 2 a.m.

The entire roof of the church was reduced to ashes, along with the furniture in the building. When The Sunday Leader visited the church, only the four outer walls were intact.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, area residents said, "There was no breakage of the church's gate or surrounding walls." But they pointed out that since the church had no boundary wall behind, anybody could walk down the adjoining side lane and get into the church premises without any difficulty.

"This attack was well planned. There were several barrels of kerosene oil stashed away at the side of the church premises after the assailants poured kerosene oil all over the church. Then tyres were placed inside the church and it was set on fire. The barrels are now at the Piliyandala police station," they said.

"The fire brigade arrived by 4 a.m., but by this time most of the damage was already done," noted a witness who was there when the fire brigade arrived.

No one was injured in this attack at the church as at the time of the incident the church was unoccupied.

On August 13, this same church suffered a bomb attack where one person was injured. According to Pastor Chrisso Handy, after this incident, nobody stayed in the church and on several occasions, oil had been thrown into the church as well.

The Pastor went on to say that stones were also thrown at the church on several occasions. "But this was the most serious act. The furniture and the entire roof was badly burnt," he stressed.

The AOG church in Kesbewa is the only church in the area as opposed to 35 Buddhist temples.

Meanwhile, AOG Pastor Kumara Perera who lives in Kesbewa is now staying in Colombo for fear of his life. Pastor Eraj de Mel of the People's Church stated that on two occasions he had noticed a motorbike without a number plate following Pastor Perera.

Around seven complaints have already been made at the Piliyandala police regarding the harassment faced by the church. However, no investigations have been completed.

The Pastor is married with three children - a girl aged 10 and two boys aged seven and four.

"I have heard that there are people who want to kill me. I am going to make a police complaint to the Piliyandala police stating whom I strongly suspect," Pastor Perera said.

According to Pastor Perera he suspects one Chandrasiri Katuwawala and a Sergeant Senaratne of plotting to kill him.

"These problems were sparked off because a sibling of Katuwawala is coming to our church and he is against this," Pastor Perera said.

Pastor Perera however stressed that within two months he will rebuild the church at Kesbewa.

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