Sri Lanka Tightens Security at Churches Ahead of Easter

Police stated on Saturday that security at churches across Sri Lanka have been ramped up ahead of Easter on Sunday, following the April 2019 coordinated attacks on visitors and the country’s minority Christian community, which resulted in the deaths of 270 people.Ajith Rohana, Senior Deputy Inspector General and police spokesperson, told reporters that “We have tightened security of churches by deploying over 12,000 security personnel.”He said there are 9,350 police officers and 2,542 tri-force troops (Army, Navy, and Air Force) among the security personnel.According to Rohana, protection will be given to 111 churches in Negombo’s western coastal town, as well as 107 churches in Chilaw’s neighbouring coastal town and 98 churches in Batticaloa’s eastern town.With 114 people killed in the church attack, the St Sebastian’s Church in Negombo’s Katuwapitiya was the worst-hit in the Easter Sunday blasts that shook the nation in 2019.Six close simultaneous and coordinated bombings, carried out by local jihadist group National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ) linked to the Islamic State (IS), rocked three churches and three luxury hotels frequented by Indians, killing 270 people and injuring 500 others.A top priest said that bits of flesh were scattered all over the walls, on the altar, and even outside the church when explaining the horror scene at St Sebastian’s Church.The church, which was constructed in 1946, is one of many in Sri Lanka dedicated to St Sebastian, a martyr in Catholic Church history.Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the head of the church, recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the investigation into the bombings, warning the government that if justice is not done, he will approach international organisations.

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