Comments on: About http://heritagendestiny.wordpress.com Always Looking Backward, Always Looking Forward Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:23:16 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: rev. Surangika fernando http://heritagendestiny.wordpress.com/about-2/#comment-310 rev. Surangika fernando Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:07:58 +0000 http://heritagendestiny.wordpress.com/about-2/#comment-310 • About Us News Sri Lanka: Incident Report, April 2009 Gang breaks in to Church and steals documents Methodist Church Sri lanka Pepiliyana, Dehiwela (Colombo District) 5th April 2009 (rev. Surangika Fernando –minister of the church whsfernando@yahoo.com An unidentified gang broke in through the back door and windows of this 150 year old church during the night. The intruders looted valuable musical instruments, Bibles, Hymn Books and other documents including Baptism and important records. The attackers took away all church documents and records from the church office. They were seen leaving the scene during the early hours of the morning in a white coloured van. Although items of value were also taken, church sources say the deliberate removal of church records and documents which are of no monetary value indicate the motive was not robbery. The incident occurred beginning of the Holy week the same night after the church celebrated Palm Sunday with a traditional procession. The Boralasgamuwa Police are investigating. Rev Surangika Fernando (minister incharge) Methodist church Papiliyana Borelesgamuwa Sri Lanka 0094 777099524 / 0094 112716327 whsfernando@yahoo.com SUNDAY TIMES Sri lanka Sunday April 12, 2009 News ________________________________________ Church attack : Baptism and important records stolen An unidentified gang stormed a Methodist church in Pepiliyana, Dehiwala earlier this week and forcibly removed musical equipment, computers and vital documents such as baptism and very important records, police and church officials said. The incident occurred early on Monday morning, a day after the church had held a traditional procession to mark Palm Sunday. The Pastor Rev. Surangika Fernando told The Sunday Times that this was the first such incident in the 150 year history of the church. The church at Pepiliyana. Pic. by Berty Mendis “We have no known enemies whosoever, and the villagers have a good relationship with the church. This unprovoked attack comes as a surprise and we suspect the burglars were from outside the area,” Pastor Fernando said. The intruders had broken in after damaging the doors and windows of the church and had later looted the place of whatever equipment that was available. “The intruders apparently intended to show it was a robbery, but that is not the case. It appears they were after something else, which is a mystery to all of us. Why do they need baptism and marriage records? It is of no importance to any one except to the parishioners,” Pastor Fernando said. This is the latest in a series of incidents where Christian churches and prayer halls have been targeted in and around the Homagama, Piliyandala and Kottawa areas. A spokesperson for the Boralesgamuwa police said investigations were continuing and it was suspected the attack was carried out by persons from outside the area. • About Us

News
Sri Lanka: Incident Report, April 2009
Gang breaks in to Church and steals documents
Methodist Church Sri lanka
Pepiliyana, Dehiwela (Colombo District)

5th April 2009 (rev. Surangika Fernando –minister of the church
whsfernando@yahoo.com
An unidentified gang broke in through the back door and windows of this 150 year old church during the night. The intruders looted valuable musical instruments, Bibles, Hymn Books and other documents including Baptism and important records. The attackers took away all church documents and records from the church office. They were seen leaving the scene during the early hours of the morning in a white coloured van.
Although items of value were also taken, church sources say the deliberate removal of church records and documents which are of no monetary value indicate the motive was not robbery. The incident occurred beginning of the Holy week the same night after the church celebrated Palm Sunday with a traditional procession. The Boralasgamuwa Police are investigating.

Rev Surangika Fernando (minister incharge)
Methodist church
Papiliyana
Borelesgamuwa
Sri Lanka
0094 777099524 / 0094 112716327
whsfernando@yahoo.com
SUNDAY TIMES Sri lanka
Sunday April 12, 2009

News
________________________________________
Church attack : Baptism and important records stolen
An unidentified gang stormed a Methodist church in Pepiliyana, Dehiwala earlier this week and forcibly removed musical equipment, computers and vital documents such as baptism and very important records, police and church officials said.
The incident occurred early on Monday morning, a day after the church had held a traditional procession to mark Palm Sunday. The Pastor Rev. Surangika Fernando told The Sunday Times that this was the first such incident in the 150 year history of the church.

The church at Pepiliyana. Pic. by Berty Mendis
“We have no known enemies whosoever, and the villagers have a good relationship with the church. This unprovoked attack comes as a surprise and we suspect the burglars were from outside the area,” Pastor Fernando said.
The intruders had broken in after damaging the doors and windows of the church and had later looted the place of whatever equipment that was available.
“The intruders apparently intended to show it was a robbery, but that is not the case. It appears they were after something else, which is a mystery to all of us. Why do they need baptism and marriage records? It is of no importance to any one except to the parishioners,” Pastor Fernando said.
This is the latest in a series of incidents where Christian churches and prayer halls have been targeted in and around the Homagama, Piliyandala and Kottawa areas. A spokesperson for the Boralesgamuwa police said investigations were continuing and it was suspected the attack was carried out by persons from outside the area.

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