Attacks on Sri Lanka churches said well planned

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 January 2004, 18:08 GMT]
National Christian Council, the umbrella organization of protestant and Catholic churches in Sri Lanka, Friday said it is "gravely concerned over the continuous stirring up of resentment against Christians and increasing incidence of unchecked violence directed at Christian places of worship." "It is obvious from the pattern of these attacks that they are well planned and coordinated and are meant to intimidate Christians," the NCC said. The council deplored that Sri Lanka Police have not taken steps to curb the attacks on churches and Christians.

In a statement issued Friday, the National Christian Council (NCC) argues against the introduction of anti conversion legislation for which Sinhala Buddhist groups are agitating.

The groups claim that Christians should be stopped from making "unethical conversions" among Sinhala Buddhists.

Anti conversion legislation "will inevitably obstruct the right to practise our respective faiths and ideologies as well as the right of individual choice and freedom. We feel very strongly that to the contrary such legislation will add to religious disputes and continuing tensions (in Sri Lanka)," the NCC said.

The NCC statement was signed by:

1. Rt. Rev. Kumara Illangasinghe, Chairperson NCC and Catholic Bishop of Kurunagala.
2. Rt. Rev. Duleep Chickera, Bishop of Colombo, head Anglican Church
3. Rt. Rev. Dr. S. Jebanesan, Bishop in Jaffna, head of Church of South India
4. Rev. Noel Fernando, President Methodist Church of Sri Lanka
5. Rev. Warshamanage, President, Sri Lanka Baptist Church
6. Col. Dr. Brian Tuck, Territorial Commander, The Salvation Army
7. Rev. C. N Jansz, President, Dutch Reformed Church
8. Rev. George Stephen, Moderator, Presbytery of Sri Lanka