(July 14, 2011) The government of Sri Lanka has turned down a bishop’s request to
build a new church in his diocese, citing strong opposition from local Buddhists.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs wrote to Bishop Harold Anthony Perera of Kurunegala
on Wednesday, telling him it was unable to give permission because it would damage
relations between Buddhists and Catholics in Hendiyagala near Pannala. “They said
they can’t give permission because of objections raised by Buddhists,” Bishop Perera
said. He said he had appealed to central government after local authorities in Pannala
had earlier turned down a similar request. The church was to replace a temporary
structure built in 1997 for over 100 Catholic families, and which was burned down
on May 13. Catholics allege Buddhist extremists were responsible for the burning
and the throwing a statue of Mother Mary into a river. The statue was recovered on
July 3. The government’s decision follows an acrimonious meeting at the ministry
on Tuesday between Buddhists and Catholics, and included several monks and priests,
to try and resolve the issue. The meeting was called after the ministry said it received
two local government reports outlining why they had refused the bishop’s plans. According
to ministry officials the Buddhists opposition to building a church in a Buddhist
majority village as they feel Catholics would try to convert Buddhists. Father Linus
Mcleod, a parish priest denied this saying the 100 Catholic families living in the
area needed a permanent structure.