Church in Sri Lanka: Building work stopped violently

In 2014 the Methodist Church in Sri Lanka (MC-SL) celebrates its 200th anniversary. A new church in Buttala was to be finished for the celebration, But Buddhist monks formed protest actions. Here is a short report of the MC-SL: “In December 2013, a group of people totalling more than 200, along with their religious leaders, gathered in front of the Methodist Church in Buttala, which was being constructed as a bicentenary monument. The group forcibly stopped the construction. The Constitution and laws of our country ensure freedom of worship for every person and therefore it is not permissible for any organization or movement to use whatever power and/or influence they wield to stop this work which was commenced after all the necessary approvals was obtained. It is important for all of us to earnestly and seriously face the events that have occurred in our church on various other occasions and are still happening. We request your prayers as the Divisional Secretary and the Police in the area support us in trying to re-commence the interrupted construction work."