Catholic church attacked by Sinhala nationalist mob

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 December 2004, 12:19 GMT]
A Catholic church in Homagama, 22 kilometers southeast of Colombo, was attacked by a group of Sinhala nationalist mob in the early hours of Sunday morning. The church has been subjected for vioence for the third time this year and it is severely damaged in the latest attack on Sunday, church sources said. South Sri Lanka has witnessed increased viloence against christian denominations since the sudden demise of a leading Sinhala Buddhist nationalist monk last December.

Two previous attacks on the church took place on December 30th in 2003 and in June 15th 2004, church sources said.

The Police has not taken any constructive action to repeated complaints made by the church, parish priest of the church told media.

Rev. Oswald Gomes, Arc. Bishop of Colombo, has condemned the attack.

Homagama Police said that they have inititated an inquiry into the attack.

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