After threats on his life Sri Lankan Christian pursued, arrested

After threats on his life Sri Lankan Christian pursued, arrested

NATTANDIYA, Sri Lanka — Police in Sri Lanka arrested a Christian who reported a Buddhist mob’s threat on his life, according to an advocacy group in the island country.

On Jan. 26, in Nattandiya, in Sri Lanka’s North Western Province, six area Buddhists threatened to attack the Christian if he refused to stop inviting a pastor to lead Bible studies at his house, the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) reported.

The next day the Christian, whose name was withheld for security reasons, filed a complaint about the threat on his life at the Marawila police station in Puttalam District. This upset the six Buddhists and with others they formed a mob Jan. 29 that headed toward his house with intent to assault him, the NCEASL reported.

A friend notified the Christian of their approach and tried to stop them, resulting in a fight in which one of the Buddhists was slightly injured and received hospital treatment, a source said.

The Christian was not present at the fight, but the injured Buddhist filed an assault complaint against him, the source said. Police arrested the Christian, who was released on bail Jan. 28.

Violence and harassment against Christians have been persistent in Sri Lanka, where the population is about 70 percent Buddhist and 13 percent Hindu, with attacks by Hindus on the upswing. Sri Lanka ranked 46th on Christian support organization Open Doors’ 2019 World Watch Listing of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. (MS)