Sri Lanka’s churches hold first Sunday mass since deadly blasts
● Police and army present as services resume in churches
The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka has held the first regular Sunday Mass since the Easter suicide bombings of churches and hotels killed more than 250 people.
Military forces and police armed with assault rifles patrolled the streets leading to churches and stood guard outside the compounds, while everyone entering was required to produce identity cards and be body searched.
Volunteers were stationed at the gates of churches to identify parishioners and look out for any suspicious individuals. Parking was banned near the churches and officials urged worshippers to bring only minimum baggage.
The measures were put in place for security as worshippers tried to return to normal routine after the devastating attacks by seven suicide bombers, who struck two Catholic and one Protestant church and three luxury hotels in the attacks last month.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the bombings, which were carried out by a local radicalised Muslim group.
Sunday services had been cancelled in the two sub sequent weekends amid fears of more attacks, leaving the faithful to hear Mass via live TV transmission from the Colombo residence of Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith.
Joshua Berney, eight, found returning to church too much, and left partway through the mass. His aunt, an uncle and three cousins – one of whom was his best friend–were killed at St Anthony’s church in Colombo.
His mother, B J, said :“We still haven’ t found his body, so it’s difficult. My son finds it tough.”
Fr Fernando Marc el liar, who led service to a full house at Mother of Seven Sorrows Mater Dolorosa church two streets away from St Antho - ny’ s, said :“The parish ioners were really upset that we didn’t have a mass the last two weeks.”
He held a private mass last Sunday, which about 50 people heard about and attended.
“Others found out later that there was am ass and they couldn’t come, and they were really upset – they even scolded me,” Marcelliar said.
Stephan Fernando, 16, was apprehensive as he entered the mass. He was serving as an altar boy at St Anthony’s when a suicide bomber detonated a device inside.
“I feel better now that I’ve received communion,” he said after the service.
Church authorities are also considering the reopening of church-run schools on Tuesday if they can be satisfied with security. Students at state-run schools resumed classes last week. Campuses were guarded by police, and parents asked to replace school bags with clear plastic sacks. Attendance remains low.
A heavy police and army presence is still visible in major cities and villages as security forces continue the hunt for accomplices of the terror cell that carried out the bombings.
President Maithripala Sirisena told parliament most of the 150 people suspected to have been linked to the plot have died or been arrested. He said 56 had been arrested on suspicion of direct involvement in the plot, of which 12 were hardcore terrorists.
The precise involvement of Isis in the attacks is not clear. Sirisena said police had so far discovered 13 safe-houses, 41 bank accounts and 19 vehicles and motorcycles belonging to the bombers. Those who aided the terrorists had been paid cash rewards of up to 2 million rupees (£8,700), he added.
Police say two previously little-known radical Islamist groups – National Towheed Jamaat and Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim – conspired in the attacks. Officials say Zahran Hashim, a vitriolic preacher from the country’s east, may have led the attackers and was one of the bombers to die.
Police are continuing to issue specific warnings of possible attacks in Colombo.