Methodist Church Bishop calls on leaders to enforce law following 'Palm Sunday' attack in Anuradhapura

Methodist Church Bishop Asiri Perera has urged that the law be enforced following the 'Palm Sunday' attack at the Methodist Church Centre in Anuradhapura.

Bishop  Perera issuing a special statement in the aftermath of the attack called on the President, Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, and the IGP to take action in this regard.

“These incidents are well-known to the higher authorities since we have created awareness of such attacks and even filed police complaints,” he said.

Recalling last Sunday’s incident as a “bitter experience” for 12 worshippers who were at the church centre, the Bishop pointed out that the Centre has been subjected to multiple attacks in the recent past.

“The mob pelted stones and started lighting firecrackers during the church service for about 45 minutes,” Bishop Perera said while expressing his firsthand experience of the incident.

He noted that the group of youths had even hurled insults at him when he had greeted them for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

“The group had locked the gate from outside leaving the worshippers, the Father of the Church and myself trapped inside the facility,” the Bishop said adding that they were escorted out of the church by the police about 30 minutes later.

While expressing gratitude for the protection provided by the police at that time, Bishop Perera lamented that the group of individuals who had carried out the attack were not arrested or questioned following the incident.

Meanwhile, the Bishop observed that the Catholics in the area will not be able to attend the Good Friday Church Service if this situation continues to exist in future.