In the aftermath of the horrific Easter Sunday multiple bomb blasts by Islamic terrorists on 3 Churches and 3 luxury hotels in Sri Lanka claiming lives of over 250 people including 50 foreigners and injuring hundreds, the Churches were closed.

Lankan Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has now called for Churches to re-open for Sunday services from 5th May 2019.

In the context of retaliation from some Christian groups targeting innocent Muslims, the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference president Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Myanmar wrote on 3rd May saying, “I condemn unequivocally the horrific unprovoked suicide bomb attacks against unarmed civilians in Churches and hotels on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019 in Sri Lanka.”

The 71 year old cardinal further condemned the trend of retaliation by some Christian groups saying, “The Church is deeply concerned by reports of revenge and the targeting of Muslim residents, refugees and asylum seekers in Sri Lanka. Many have fled persecution in their own lands, and are now being targeted again. Almost 900 have been reported to have been at risk of reprisal and 150 of these were forced to seek shelter in police stations.”