Colombo: Sri Lankan Catholics celebrated Sunday Mass in their homes for a second week as churches remain closed after reports of possible fresh attacks by Islamic extremists.
Cardinal Malcom Ranjith, the archbishop of Colombo, offered a televised Mass from his residence that was attended mostly by priests and nuns. A letter from Pope Francis addressed to him was read out at the end of the service in which the pontiff said he prayed that “hearts hardened by hatred may yield to His will for peace and reconciliation among all his children”.
At St Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo, one of the sites targeted by Easter suicide bombings that killed 257 people, a Mass was celebrated for a small group of children and youth as a means for inner healing. Almost all churches remained closed with armed soldiers and police guarding them.
Authorities cancelled Sunday services after reports emerged a Catholic church and lay institution could be targeted this weekend. Catholic schools have also been closed until further notice. However, all government schools are to reopen Monday for grade 6 and up. Police have announced they will search the premises of all schools Sunday.
200 Islamic clerics expelled
Sri Lanka has expelled over 600 foreign nationals, including around 200 Islamic clerics, since the Easter suicide bombings blamed on a local jihadi group, a minister told AFP on Sunday.
Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena said the clerics had entered the country legally, but amid a security crackdown after the attacks were found to have overstayed visas, for which fines were imposed and they were expelled from the island. Meanwhile, ammunitions were recovered from a girls’ school in Gampola on Saturday, police said on Sunday.
