Sri Lanka: Pastor and Wife Attacked for Defending Right to Worship

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

ASGIRIYA, SRI LANKA (Worthy News)– Eleven monks from the nationalist Buddhist Strength Force lobby led a violent mob of 250 villagers who physically assaulted the family of the pastor of Holy Family Church in Asgiriya, Sri Lanka, on Feb. 16, according to Christian Today Australia.

The monks demanded that both the pastor and his wife stop holding worship services, but when the couple protested, they were forced outside and assaulted. After the attack, a BBS leader gathered villagers together near the pastor’s home where he promised the same ill treatment for anyone participating in Christian worship services.

Ultra nationalist Buddhist monks have also threatened worshippers in Warakapola and Sabaragamuwa provinces who were attending the Church of Grace. Signatories of a petition drafted by the pastor defending their right to freely worship have been threatened as well.