Srilanka: Protests and rallies against the Church

Buddhists in Sri lanka held four anti–Christian meetings, instigating attacks against the Christian community, said an evangelical group in the country.

According to the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL), four anti–Christian meetings, apparently organized by radical Buddhists, took place from Friday, June 13, to Tuesday, June 17, in the town of Middeniya in Sri Lanka's Hambanthota District.

Banners and large posters were seen in the town, which read, "Buddhists are in danger. Let's save Middeniya from fundamentalists," said its report.

Says GCIC, "The purpose of the meeting was to express opposition to Christianity and advertise the rally planned for the 22nd."

Following the protests, a Christian girl, was allegedly assaulted by her fellow students, when its school principal urged its students to stop attending Churches and to "fight" to save its people.

Further violence against the community is expected Sunday, June 22, in Middeniya where Buddhists will organize another anti–Christian rally, which they claim will "expose the great [Christian] conspiracy."

The NCEASL in its report said, as a result of such discrimination "an Assemblies of God (AOG) church pastor, his wife and three children are "virtual prisoners" in their own home."

Meanwhile, Christian Solidary Worldwide (CSW) said, it has contacted the Sri Lankan authorities to take "immediate action to prevent further attacks" on Christians "and ensure that perpetrators of violence are brought to justice."

"We are extremely concerned to hear of the increasing opposition to Christians in Sri Lanka from Buddhist fundamentalists," said Stuart Windsor, National Director of Britain–based rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) in a statement to BosNewsLife.

Sri lanka comprises of seven percent Christians and mainly Buddhist population of over 21 million people.