On June 13th, a mob attacked Pastor Rozairo’s house in Neluwa at midnight. He was inside with his pregnant wife, their 2 year old son, a couple from their church, and another couple, who had been displaced by the floods. The gang blasted the electric metre. Two groups broke into the house wearing masks. They collected all the Christian literatures, clothes, and furniture, setting it ablaze with petrol. They beat one of the men, Brother Anton, with iron rods and tried to stab him. However they stopped when his wife Sherine screamed. The gang threatened to kill them if they continued to stay in the village. They could not find Pas. Rozairo as he was hiding in the next room. With the house ablaze, some were trapped in the room and had to jump out the window. The next day an entry was made at the Neluwa Police Station. Although the police are aware of who is responsible no arrests have been made to this date.

Prior to this attack, the police had been alerted of the danger that Pastor Rozairo and his family lived in. Pastor Rozairo had been threatened by a gang led by Sirisoma and Bandula. The gang also took Pastor Rozairo to a Buddhist priest who requested that Pastor Rozairo leave the village. Although police reports were filed, nothing resulted from the inquires beyond Pastor Rozairo’s move to suspend religious meetings outside of the house. Sirisoma and Bandula were absent from one inquiry because they were working for a local government minister. The gang told the police that they were not interested in the law and would solve the problem themselves. This should have warned the police that further action was needed to protect Pastor Rozairo and his family.

A smaller attack had previously occurred on June 9th. A gang surrounded Pastor Rozairo’s house, smashed several windows, and attempted to throw a petrol bomb through the window but it caught fire outside. The family was then threatened with death if they did not leave immediately. The following day Pastor Rozairo reported this incident to the police referencing Sirisoma and Bandula as the suspects. The police did not visit the scene of the crime. Even with the knowledge of this attack and the previous threats the police did not actively attempt to protect the Rozairo family which resulted in the final attack and arson of Pastor Rozairo’s house.

We live in a democratic nation where our constitution guarantees equal rights to all people. Freedom of speech and worship is also guaranteed to all citizens. In other democratic countries, where Christianity is dominant, many turn to Asian religions yet violence is never used against them. The Christian Church in Sri Lanka is facing vengeance from mobs that are backed by Buddhist monks, politicians, and/or police as is seen in the previously described incident. We are making a strong appeal to the Government of Sri Lanka and to the international community to intervene to ensure our rights to freely exist.

Rev. Vernon H Perera Senior Pastor Calvary Center Assembly of God, Ja-Ela

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