On the 12th of January 2014, at approximately 2p.m., two police officers visited the premises of the pastor of the Church of Grace in Warakapola in the Kegalle District, and questioned him as to why he had not stopped the worship services held in his premises since he was warned to discontinue the services.

The pastor responded by stating his right to religious worship and his fundamental right to continue with the religious worship activities. The police officers informed the pastor that a petition had been submitted to the area police station claiming that the religious worship activities taking place in the pastor’s premises were unauthorized. The pastor was requested to attend a police inquiry on 13th January 2014.

On the 13th of January 2014, the police inquiry commenced at 1.00 pm and the police officers insisted that the religious worship activities held at the premises should be stopped. However, upon the pastor’s refusal to accept the request, the Officer in Charge (OIC) requested that the pastor not hold services only on the 19th January 2014, due to information received by the Police of a threat of attack against the pastor and his congregation.

The OIC informed the pastor that a case will be filed in the Magistrates Court against the pastor based on breach of peace in the community.

The case was called in the Magistrate Court on 22nd January 2014; the magistrate gave order for written submissions to be filed on 12th March 2014, defending the cause that the religious worship activities do not hinder the peace in the village community.

Source:NCEASL(nceasl.org)