Sri Lankan Cases
MC22587
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Charges relate to section 81 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the disruption of peace. The case was called to present police report to the Magistrate along with the suspects in order to obtain respective bonds.
MC22587
On 24th February 2019, at approximately 09:15 a.m., as the pastor and her congregants were preparing for the Sunday worship service, a mob of around 200 individuals led by 04 Buddhist monks forcibly entered the church premises and demanded the pastor stop her worship activities immediately. They threatened the congregants with obscene language, broke chairs, and damaged roofing sheets. 01 Buddhist monk threatened the Christians with death if they refused to stop their worship activities. As they were leaving, some members of the mob grabbed a female congregant, dragged her into the street, threw her at the feet of the monks, and began beating her. They dispersed soon after. Another congregant called the police emergency hotline and 05 police officers from the Meegalewa Police Station arrived at around 10 a.m. and took the pastor’s statement. They then escorted the pastor, her husband, and the Christian who was assaulted to the police station. The Buddhist monks had arrived at the Meegalewa Police Station before the Christians and lodged a complaint, claiming the pastor was breaching the peace. The pastor then filed her own complaint concerning the incident (CIB (1) 107/282).
On 25th February 2019, at around 11 a.m., the pastor, her husband, and another congregant arrived at the Meegalewa Police Station for an inquiry regarding the complaint filed by the Buddhist monks. 02 monks and around 10 villagers were also present at the inquiry; however, around 300 individuals had gathered outside the police station. The monks demanded the pastor stop conducting her worship services and only engage in worship observances in private. The villagers reiterated this demand. The Officer-in Charge (OIC) told the pastor to comply with the demands of the monks and claimed the police wouldn’t provide her with further protection. The OIC then attempted to settle the matter between the parties; however, the pastor insisted the matter be referred to the courts. (case number 22587). The Christian who was assaulted filed a separate complaint. She was admitted to the Meegalewa Hospital and then transferred to the Teaching Hospital in Anuradhapura for 02 days. A case was filed on her behalf at the Galgamuwa Magistrates Court, numbered B 211.
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