CINNAMON GARDENS BAPTIST CHURCH

COLOMBO

SRI LANKA

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  PICTURES OF THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS RECEIVING THE KEYS TO THEIR HOUSES APPEAR ELSEWHERE IN THIS WEBSITE     ::::::::        ALL SHOULD PRAY FOR PEACE IN SRI LANKA   :::::::       PRAY ALSO FOR THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES WHICH ARE UNDER ATTACK IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY     

 

 

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You have reached the Home Page of Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church (CGBC). This is the largest Baptist Church in Sri Lanka, situated in the hub of Colombo city - De Soysa Circus - where 6 roads meet. CGBC caters to a multi-cultural, international congregation, where all who love the Lord Jesus Christ are welcome. 

DONA LETITIA ELLEN PERERA

Called to Rest on 6th September 2008

Burial took place at the Jawatte Cemetery after a Funeral Service at Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church on 10 September 2008


CHURCH CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER  2008

Date ENGLISH SERVICE

10.00 a.m.

SINHALA - TAMIL SERVICE

7.45 a.m.

7 Worship and Communion - Rev. Gary Dean Worship & Communion - Rev. Warshamanage
14 Worship - Rev. Gary Dean Worship - Guest Preacher
21 Worship - Rev. Gary Dean Worship - Guest Preacher
28 Friendship Sunday - Guest Preacher Friendship Sunday - Guest Preacher

OCTOBER  2008

Date ENGLISH SERVICE

10.00 a.m.

SINHALA - TAMIL SERVICE

7.45 a.m.

5 Worship and Communion - Rev. Gary Dean Worship & Communion - Rev. Warshamanage
12 Worship - Rev. Gary Dean Worship - Guest Preacher
19 195th Church Anniversary - Guest Preacher - Rev. Roshan Mendis
26 Friendship Sunday - Guest Preacher Friendship Sunday - Guest Preacher
  • There will be a special Evangelism emphasis on the fourth Sunday of each month

  • Friendship Sunday - Everyone is encouraged to bring a friend to this Service.                    


Religious intolerance!

Courtesy of the Sunday Leader - 13 July 2008


Monks and villagers on the offensive and  (inset) Inside the church after the attack

By Sonali Samarasinghe

At 9 a.m last Sunday July 6, a handful of Christians in and around Thalahena flocked to the Calvary Church at Araliya Place, Thalahena, Malabe for their weekly devotional service. As they travelled to their place of worship they were not to know that lurking somewhere in the bushes were a mob. A mob led by four Buddhist monks intent on teaching them a lesson they hoped the church was unlikely to forget.

Little did the 75 Christian believers practicing their religion in what they thought was a democracy that Sunday know that in a couple of hours, their pastor would be grievously hurt and be in hospital, that their church would be a tangled mess of falling roof, broken chairs and shattered glass and that their vehicles would be vandalised.  

Little did they know that the symbol of their faith - the cross would be denigrated and condemned and that all this would happen at the instigation of some Buddhist monks - professing a philosophy of non violence and tolerance.

At 9 that morning the service began with Pastor Roshan Andriezen in attendance. Soon there was a commotion at the front entrance and four Buddhist monks entered demanding to know who the pastor was and stating that the service be stopped immediately.

To discuss the issue

Pastor Roshan immediately came forward and attempted to conduct the monks outside the church building to discuss the issue. Six male elders from the church followed Pastor Roshan while the women and children, many frightened and crying remained within the building. Outside they were met by a mob of about 25 persons.

"They threatened to destroy the church building and 'finish off everything,' Pastor Roshan told The Sunday Leader. "They said they have already attacked some 23 churches," Pastor Roshan alleged.

Five days after the brutal attack Pastor Roshan is still in severe pain. His right eye was badly hurt, his nose was broken and his back was beaten and badly bruised. Attacked from all sides and hit once with the heavy wooden pulpit in the church it was Pastor Roshan, his father John Andriezen, his brother Rohan Andriezen and three other male elders of the church who faced the full brunt of the dastardly attack.

Pastor Roshan was to then explain to the mob that there were laws in place that should protect their rights, but the monks had allegedly retorted, according to an official statement released by the Calvary Church Headquarters in Mirihana, that it was they who made the laws in the land and it would be they who would break the laws.

 Fraught with tension  

With the atmosphere fraught with tension those inside the church had desperately dialed the police emergency hotline 119 several times. A while later two police officers were to arrive on the scene.

Meanwhile earlier that morning at about 7.30 a.m Pastor Roshan on entering the church together with a few elders of the church in preparation for the morning service had noticed the glass was broken on the cross in the church premises. They were to inform 119 immediately and two police officers from the Talangama Police Station arrived on the premises and recorded a complaint.

Now later in the morning one of the police officers who had recorded the first statement accompanied the other on to the scene of the alleged crime.

According to the official statement of the Calvary Church it was alleged the monks in the presence of the police had declared that their intention was to bring kerosene and burn the church down, while the believers were inside. The two policemen attempted to calm the mob and the monks but to no avail.

In the melee one of the monks had declared that he was not from the village insisting that unless the priest from the village arrived along with others to support the cause he would decline to protest.

Casting the first stone

It was at this time that the Thalahena temple bells pealed repeatedly. Pastor Roshan alleges that villagers were told on inquiry that it was in fact monks who were being attacked by church goers.

The rumour was sufficient for a mob of about 300-400 villagers to storm the church premises. It was then that they started stoning the church.

With those trapped within the church constantly dialing 119, now four policemen arrived together with about 10 in civvies but were unable to quell the incited mob who had now started to call out to the pastor to come outside as they wanted to kill him.

According to the Calvary Church the Acting OIC of  Talangama then proceeded in to the church building and asked Pastor Roshan to disperse the church members under police protection and then resolve the issue through dialogue with the monks and villagers.

Pastor Rosh-an was reluctant however to do so fearing for the safety of his flock but the Acting OIC pointed to his pistol and assured him that he was taking responsibility for the safety of the church members and was therefore prepared to use his weapon if necessary in the light of the threat to burn down the church building with the people inside.

Stormed into the church           

Alas however as the church members left the building, the monks and villagers had allegedly stormed inside the church with clubs and poles brutally assaulting the Pastor, his father, brother and three other male lay leaders. At one point some 30 persons had surrounded the pastor beating him severely once even using the heavy pulpit to do so even as a policeman in civvies tried to defend pastor Roshan by shielding his head.

Once the unruly mob had completely destroyed the church roof, chairs and other equipment it was none other than the Buddhist monks who came over to Pastor Roshan, allegedly kicking him, with one of them allegedly saying 'I will catch you, as I have noted you, and I will not let you go. I can do this as I have underworld connections.'

Pastor Roshan and several others who were injured were later rushed to the Koswatte Hospital in a police vehicle, but since the injuries were too severe for the hospital to treat they proceeded to the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital in a private vehicle. Pastor Roshan was discharged five days later last Thursday (10). He suffered a broken nose, severe injury to his right eye and lower back. His father sustained injuries to his arm and back.

Statements were subsequently made to the police and several suspects charged in case No. 2384/B. It is learnt that the lawyer for Calvary Church Nalinda Indratissa had also made written representations to the Attorney General on the conduct of the investigations.

Barbarism

However it is a reflection of the depths to which this country has sunk and the barbarism and hooliganism that prevails that such an incident took place and that such acts of violence against other religions are treated by many as acts of heroism.

One of the monks present at the incident (see interviews elsewhere on this page) justified their actions stating they were against conversions. However Pastor Roshan is adamant in his denial. There is a difference he says, between forcing someone to convert and a person converting out of conviction. "We do not give them economic benefits. What is more it is they who every Sunday give a small offering if they can to the church if at all. We do not accept this allegation."

Ven. Galagodatta GnanasaraThero in an interview with The Sunday Leader was to also allege that these pastors have terrorist connections. He cited the incident of two pastors in Wattala who were caught with suicide bomb kits.

Pastor Roshan, a Burgher who is mainly conversant in Sinhalese is shocked at the allegation. "I don't know anything about any Wattala incident but we are open at all times," he says. The authorities can check us out at any time and we will cooperate. How can you say pastors have such connections?"

The Calvary Church meanwhile has made a further statement to the police with regard to protection of the premises as the police withdrew its presence at 9 a.m that morning.

Intolerance     

That there is hatred and intolerance towards other religions as the government propagates a policy of extremism and hate filled nationalism is evident. Neither has this government, now waging war against its own citizens realised what a terrible monster it is nurturing in the JHU monks whose hate politics linked to Buddhism has found resonance with a Sinhalese polity that is largely racist and ignorant.

And while Sri Lanka plummets towards Nazi rule on the one hand it is hurtling towards a monstrosity that is religious intolerance on the other.   

Just two weeks before the Thalahena incident Ven. Omalpe Sobitha together allegedly with the leadership of the Middeniya Purana Viharaya held a rally in Middeniya town on June 22. The rally consisted of hate speeches and calls for destruction of evangelical churches.

Forgetting that this country was converted to Buddhism as well, priests shouted out against conversion in a frenzy. They allegedly dragged a cross on a tractor and burnt it in the town square. They stoned the Middeniya Assembly of God pastor's house.

The attacks on churches is now again gaining momentum and President Mahinda Rajapakse must realise that he is the protector of all the citizens of this country. As the elected President he cannot pick and choose who he will protect. The law of the land cannot pick and choose whom it will protect.

True to her faith

Ironically President Rajapakse's wife, First Lady Shirathi is a devout Catholic who is found very often in church of a morning. She does not confine herself to Catholic churches and it is to her undeniable credit that despite the political ramifications and the strength of the JHU and other like hate elements she continues to be true to her faith.

It is to her credit that she cares not for the ramblings of the hate mongers as she boldly walks into church (name of the church withheld for security considerations) and declares to the people her religion.

Just as First Lady Shiranthi Rajapakse has the right to walk into a church of a Sunday morning and pray undisturbed so has the villager in Talahena the right to walk into a church and pray.

No Buddhist priest nor politician nor JHU monk can stop another human being from exercising the religion of his or her choice. This is fundamental to the law of this land.

President Rajapakse had better look sharp. Already Lt. General Sarath Fonseka says that the LTTE will endure for over 20 years and the insurgency will go on forever because of Tamil nationalism. The country's politicians since independence starting from S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike have created a communal monster by pandering to Sinhala extremism.

 One hopes Rajapakse does not let this dangerous trend go unattended by again pandering to Sinhala Buddhist extremism.

It would spell the end of this nation as we know it.


Recent Baptisms at CGBC

Six candidates were baptized by Rev. Gary Dean at the English Service of the Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church on 4 May 2007. Their picture appears below.

(Left to Right) Premika Ukwatte, Lavindhi Senapathiratne, Anarkalee Perera, Yujith Perera, Rev. Gary Dean, Praneedi Perera, Radheeni Algama


TSUNAMI PROJECT COMPLETED

The Tsunami housing project of the Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church was completed on 7 April 2007. The keys to the newly built houses were handed over to the families of the beneficiaries in a simple ceremony in which Rev. W. Warshamanage (Pastor, CGBC), Rev. Heshan de Silva (Former Pastor, CGBC), Pastor Freddie de Alwis (RASDA Project Manager), Pastor Sarath Wickremasinghe (Asst. Project Manager) and the local Buddhist Priest participated. Several members of CGBC, including 2 Deacons, members of the Disaster Relief Committee, other members of the CGBC congregation, and the families of the villagers receiving the houses participated.

We wish to take this opportunity to thank Rev. Freddie de Alwis and his RASDA team for the hard work put in by them to complete the four houses for the Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church. We are well aware of the tremendous difficulties and discouragements they faced in carrying out this task, but know  that God will reward them for their effort. We also wish to thank the generous people around the world, who contributed to this effort by sending in their contributions which made it possible to alleviate the suffering of at least a few families affected by disastrous tsunami of 26 December 2004. 

Below are some pictures of the completed houses and their handing over to the people of Kahawa who lost their houses and in some cases their family members in the tsunami.

 

    

   Plaque on each House (Note quaint spelling)               Team from CGBC inspecting houses before hand-over

 

      

          Proud owners of new house                                                   Another proud owner

 

   

                   Entering his kingdom                                                                          Taking charge

 

    

    A powerful bench: 4 priests presiding over ceremony           Part of the audience attending

 

  

                   Handing over the keys                                                       Ready to open, key in hand

 

See more pictures in the Photo Gallery by clicking here 8


Christian Council appeals to MR to reconsider PTA

The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) expressed fear that the recently introduced emergency regulations on the Prevention of Terrorism may lead to the suppression of legitimate activities and democratic dissent.

A statement issued by the council further said Churches were required to fulfill the mandate given by God to serve all people and eliminate suffering, poverty, need, destitution regardless of race caste and creed. They appeal to the President to take urgent steps to prevent the operation of these emergency regulations in the present form.

“We have carefully considered the Emergency (Prevention of Terrorism and Specified Terrorist Activities) Regulations Na 07 of 2006 published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 1474/5 of December 6, 2006 and are gravely concerned about its potential for adverse interpretation and application.

“The definition given to ‘terrorism’ in the Regulations is very broad and vague and consequently could lead to the suppression of legitimate activities and even democratic dissent. We are particularly conscious of our recent history, wherein such wide and sweeping powers gave rise to serious and widespread abuse, political victimization and the suppression of fundamental freedoms.

“We are particularly alarmed by the offences prescribed in Sections 8 and 9 of the Regulations, which carry severe penal sanctions and blanket immunity afforded to persons taking action(s) on the strength of the Regulations. Section 8 makes any transaction whatsoever with even an associate of a person who acts in contravention of Sections 6 and 7 an offence and Section 9 prohibits dissemination of any information which could, in the opinion of a Government functionary, be considered prejudicial to national security, have serious reservations about the necessity to obtain the written approval of the Competent Authority to exercise our social and humanitarian responsibilities.

“As Churches with a religious foundation and vision we are required to fulfil the mandate given by God to serve all people and eliminate suffering, poverty, need, destitution, exploitation, deprivation and affliction regardless of race, caste or creed. We appeal to the President to take urgent steps to prevent the operation of these Regulations in the present form”, an NCCSL statement said.

Daily Mirror 09/01/07



 

 

CONTRIBUTIONS TO CGBC DISASTER RELIEF FUND

 

In order to receive and process your contributions to the relief work of CGBC we have set up a special account "Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church Disaster Relief Fund". You could send money in your own currency from your own bank by wire transfer. The details of the destination account you will need to supply to your bank are as follows:

 

Name of Account: Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church Disaster Relief Fund

Account Number: 0760171727

Name and address of Bank: Hatton National Bank, Cinnamon Gardens Branch, 251 Dharmapala Mw., Colombo 7, Sri Lanka

Swift Code of Bank: HBLILKLX

 

An alternative (but much slower) method would be to send a cheque made out to the same fund and account number by courier  or by registered post to the address given below.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS

 

We request all contributors to the CGBC Relief Fund to send us an e-mail (cgbc@sltnet.lk) with details (name, address, e-mail address, etc.) of yourself and/or your institution so that we might acknowledge your contribution both directly by letter and on the web. Our bank has received several contributions (see Accounts in Disaster Relief Fund page) for which they have difficulty in tracing to the donor's name. We would like to acknowledge ALL contributions from those who have been moved by the Lord to come to aid of their brothers and sisters in distress. Besides, this helps us in our effort to be absolutely transparent in using God's money. Thank you and God bless you all.

COMMENT:

 

Persecution of Christians

 

The news items carried on this page indicate a growing trend of attacks on Christians and Christian Churches in Sri Lanka. This is not surprising in view of the increasing number of Sri Lankans who are accepting Christ as their Saviour in these troubled times.

 

The basis of civilized life in this country is being rapidly eroded by:

  • continuing civil strife,

  • robberies, murders, rapes and other heinous crimes that go unpunished,

  • flouting of the law and abuse of power with impunity by powerful politicians and underworld characters,

  • rampant corruption in the institutions charged with maintaining law and order, and the

  • almost daily massacres of civilians by terrorists and/or the armed forces.

The situation is so bad that one Minister (and I don't mean a Minister of the church - it was a government minister, the late Anura Bandaranaike) said that we are fast heading towards becoming a failed state.

 

It is no wonder then, that people are looking for a rock to which they can moor their lives, so that they would not be tossed about or swept away by the evil currents that threaten to engulf us all. And most of them choose Jesus Christ to be the anchor of their lives. It is not that we, as Christians, are less subject to the problems and violent events around us, but that we derive the strength and courage and fortitude to face any situation from our religion. We are able to look at events on this earth in the perspective of a much more fulfilling and everlasting life to come.


 

Halt escalating violence against Christian churches

The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) is perturbed about the violent culture that is emerging against the minority Christian population in this country.

On July 6, 2008, the Calvary Church in Thalahena was attacked and the priest, Rev. Roshan Andriezen was brutally beaten up along with his father, brother and three other lay leaders of the Church. The mob completely destroyed everything within the Church including furniture, musical instruments and other valuable equipment. They also caused extensive damage to the Church roof leaving only the outer walls of the Church standing. The Police who gave protection was over powered by the mob.

The NCEASL notes that this is not an isolated incident but an emerging trend in the last few years against the Christian minority population.  In the last few months, we have seen a series of blatant acts of persecution against Christian clergymen and the church. The gunning down of Rev. Neil Edirisinghe in Ampara in February, the brutal assault of the Methodist Church clergyman in Ampara in June and the arson attack on the Assembly of God Church at Middeniya in Hambantota in July are some notable incidents. In both Rev. Neil’s killing and the assault on the Methodist clergyman, we appreciate that the suspects were taken in by the law.

In the circumstances, prompt action must be taken to arrest the worsening situation and ensure that individual religious freedom is not only nominally assured in the Constitution but also actually enjoyed by all citizens of the country, irrespective of their religious beliefs. Therefore, we strongly appeal to the authorities to safeguard religious freedom and human rights of the minority groups. We also strongly condemn the actions of certain groups who are seeking to create religious discord and a rift between religious groups who have co-existed peacefully in the past. Therefore, we appeal to the government to protect religious rights of the minority faith.

Rev. Michael Dissanayake
Chairman- National Christian Evangelical
Alliance of Sri Lanka
 

Courtesy of the Daily Mirror 18 July 2008


 

Sri Lanka Christians Face Massive Attacks, Investigators say
 

Wednesday, 05 March 2008 (11 hours ago)
By BosNewsLife News Center
Sri Lanka Christians face increased attacks, rights group says COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (BosNewsLife)-- There was concern Wednesday, March 5, about the apparent escalation of violence against Christians in Sri Lanka amid fresh reports of attacks against churches and other Christian institutions.

Britain-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a major rights group, told BosNewsLife there this month saw a "dramatic" increase in attacks against Christians in the country, including Monday, March 3 when the Zion Mount Prayer House in Sri Lanka's Mulaitivu District was set on fire. "The pastor, his wife, child and two other people were inside at the time, although it is believed they were able to escape."

The previous day ten Bible School students in Lunuwila, Putlam District, were reportedly attacked by ten masked men on motorbikes.

The violence apparently occurred as the students of the Believers Church Bible College were walking from the railway station. "They were beaten, kicked and attacked with rods. More attackers arrived in a van and dragged one student into the vehicle, where he was beaten and kicked. Nine students were treated in hospital for injuries," CSW said in a statement.

PASTOR’S HOME STONED

Elsewhere a mob of 200 people surrounded a local pastor’s home in the village of Udugama

http://www.bosnewslife.com/news/3483-sri-lank...


 

 

Your Testimony

 

We will be opening this web page to new Christians who would like to describe how and why they accepted Jesus Christ as their personal saviour. Later, we hope to publish a collection of these testimonies as a book that would encourage others in Sri Lanka who are desperately searching for hope in what appears to be a hopeless situation.

 

Why I became a Christian

Are you a convert from another religion to Christianity?

Would you like to tell the story of your conversion and what made you decide to follow Jesus?. If so, send it in by e-mail to: kingsleydealwis@yahoo.com .The following guidelines should be observed in writing your testimony, remembering that you will be addressing it mainly to non-Christians of your former religion.

 

Guidelines for telling your conversion story:

·     Write for non-Christians (Buddhists, Hindus, Moslems, Atheists or whatever you were before). Write as if you were writing or telling the story to one of your friends.

·     Do not call it a testimony. The title will be your name and brief title, e.g. Ananda Pathirana, Teacher, under the general rubric “Why I became a Christian

·     Empathize with (show your understanding of) the view of life held by those of your former religion . Do not show contempt for, or ridicule, their beliefs. See what you are writing, from their point of view.

·     Share things about your life, both before and after conversion that they would be interested in.

·     Give sufficient information about yourself, so that readers can feel they really know you. This should include your name, your family background, where you studied, what you do for a living and how you came to have your former beliefs.

·     Include factual descriptive details so that readers can really picture how the events happened that led to your becoming a Christian.

·     No evangelical jargon, ever

·     Don't sound churchy, preachy or pious and don’t use Christian jargon which is meaningless to non-Christians. Quote scripture only in respect of what led to the change in your beliefs or that you live by after your conversion. In any case, don’t quote book, chapter and verse.

·     Assume that non-Christian reader will have zero-knowledge of the Christian faith.

·     Be honest: don't exaggerate, or portray yourself as living a perfect life with no problems after your conversion.

·     Try to correct common misunderstandings about Christianity that your friends might have (and which you probably had before).

·     Use a lively magazine-feature style of writing. If you like, imagine that your are being interviewed and write your testimony as answers to questions posed by an imaginary interviewer.

·     Incorporate direct speech if possible: he said to me “……….,” then I said “......" etc.

·     Show that being a Christian is a day-to-day relationship. Mention where you worship now and how anyone can do as you have done and become a Christian. 

·     Aim at an easy English level accessible to the typical Sri Lankan reader.

·     Revise, check, edit, rewrite, and revise again and again. Have it reviewed by somebody you trust.

·     Use a photo if at all possible and let the reader know how to contact you (postal address, e-mail address, telephone number, etc.). Anonymous testimonies are worthless. If you are worried about announcing who you are because of possible repercussions, don’t send in a testimony. Instead, keep praying to God to lead you into giving your testimony when the time is right for you.

·     The total length of your true story should be about 3 to 4 pages in single spaced 12 font script.


 


We are against conversion -Ven. Galagodatte Gnanasara Thero

Interviews by Nirmala Kannangara

Ven. Galabodatte Gnanasara Thero was one of the noticeable Buddhist monks as per photographs taken at the time, involved in the July 6 attack on the Calvary Church in Thalahena, Malabe and its Pastor Roshan Andriezen. The Thero when questioned  admitted that he was among the crowd that attacked the church on Sunday, July 6 morning.

The Ven. Thero told The Sunday Leader that he had to assist the Thalahena temple to 'teach a lesson' to Pastor Andriezen as he was engaged in illegal conversion.

"The Buddhists are against conversion and we have reprimanded the church on many occasions that this should not continue further but to no avail. It was I who first raised the voice against conversion and although the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) monks who entered parliament in 2004 promised to bring the anti conversion bill they have so far failed to keep their promise. So if those who are in the legislature are not willing to talk against illegal conversion we as responsible Buddhist clergy in the country have to take the law into our own hands to put a halt to these activities," added the Thero.

When asked as to why they attacked a holy church and its pastor without having any dialogue with them, the Thero said that there wasn't a need to have a discussion with them since the church had converted most of the Buddhists in the area.

"Most of our students who came for the 'daham pasala' have been converted and the Buddhists in the area did not want this to continue. Apart from this all these pastors are LTTE supporters and the recent arrest of two pastors in Wattala with suicide bomb kits clearly shows as to how these pastors have disguised themselves as religious leaders," alleged the Thero.

 Police was biased - Pastor

Accusing the police of being biased, Pastor Roshan Andriezen told The Sunday Leader that although he has made several requests to the police to give maximum protection to the church the police had failed to do so.

"The police wanted me to disperse the people who had come for the Sunday morning mass and were protecting me from the angry mob, to allow the Buddhist monks in, for a discussion to bring the unpleasant situation under control. Promising me full police protection they finally failed to come near me when I was screaming when the mob started assaulting me with the pulpit and also with clubs. If they were really committed to giving protection to the church and me they would have done it easily but they were there as mere spectators, not as police officers," alleged the Pastor.

According to the Pastor he was informed that JHU member and Chairman, Central Environmental Authority (CEA) Udaya Gammanpila had got some of the offenders taken into police custody released the next day on July 7.

OIC refutes allegations

Refuting the allegations levelled against the Talangama Police, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Talangama Police IP Chaminda Pinto told The Sunday Leader that the police acted impartially.

"If we were biased we wouldn't have arrested people and since those who were involved knew that the police was hunting after the rest of the mob they all surrendered to the police the very next day. In this backdrop how could the church accuse the police of being biased," asked the OIC.

When asked as to why the police allowed Udaya Gammanpila who is a JHU member to get some of the offenders released before producing them in courts the OIC refuted the charges.

"Since there were seven charges against the offenders the police did not release any of the people taken into custody and Udaya Gammanpila never came to the police," said the OIC. 

Thero on the Middeniya rally

According to the Ven. Thero of Bhodirajaramaya, Hingurana, Embilipitiya, the proposed plan to build a Pentecostal Church in Embilipitiya irked the neighborhood and a protest was organised on June 22 by voluntary organisations, the police and the traders association in Middeniya.

"It was Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thero who delivered the key note address and while he was addressing the massive gathering a group of boys set fire to a cross made out of the trunk of a plantain tree. Seeing the big flame Sobitha Thero requested the police to stop the fire," added the Thero.

Q: What was the reason for Sobitha Thero to request the police to stop the fire? Was it because it was an insult to the cross.

A: No. It was not, but thinking it would harm the massive gathering.

Q: Was it true that the mob had set fire to a picture of the Virgin Mary as well?

A: If The Sunday Leader wants a news story I could set fire to a cross with Jesus Christ  and Virgin Mary's photos and send it to your newspaper.

Ven. Omalpe Sobitha overseas

The Sunday Leader  attempted to contact Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thero but was unable to do so, and the newspaper was informed he had gone overseas.

Middeniya police mum

OIC Middeniya Police K.B. Keerthiratne when questioned as to what happened in Middeniya on June 22 told The Sunday Leader that he was not bound to give any information unless he gets an order from the Police Spokesperson SSP Ranjith Gunasekara. However when contacted SSP Gunasekara assured The Sunday Leader  that he would request OIC Keerthiratne to give the information about the Middeniya incident to the paper; but all attempts to contact the OIC after that were unsuccessful. 


 

Our Mission

CGBC is part of the Universal Church  in Heaven and on Earth, which was founded by Jesus Christ. Our mission is to carry out the great commission he gave to his disciples: Go out and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We are committed to carry out this mission in the City of Colombo as well as in other parts of Sri Lanka.

CGBC Profile

The Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church (CGBC) is a Bible-based Christian church which serves a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural congregation. The CGBC belongs to the national organization of Baptist churches known as the Sri Lanka Baptist Sangamaya (SLBS) and, through it, is affiliated to the international community of Baptist churches. The congregation of CGBC consists of people of all communities and classes drawn from all parts of Colombo and its suburbs. Those who worship at this church also include Christians of other denominations, interested non-Christians and visitors from all parts of the world. 

 

Contact Us

Address: 
Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church
120 Dharmapala Mawatha
Colombo 7
Sri Lanka
Phone:(9411) 472-2057
Fax: (9411) 472-2057
Email: cgbc@sltnet.lk
Secretary: 
Mrs. Ruby Weerasinhge
96/18 Kottanuwatta Road
Nugegoda
Tel: (94 - 11) 485 - 2779
 
 
Treasurer:
Mrs. Shalini Jayasooriya
79/4 Kuruppu Road
Colombo 8
(9411) 268-2825
Mobile: 077 731-1549
Pastor: Wijedasa Warsamanage
The Manse 
120 Dharmapala Mawatha
Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Tel: (9411)269-5133
Email: cgbc@sltnet.lk
 
Pastor: Gary Dean
Tel: (9411)250-0357
Mobile: 077 302-0546
 
 

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