In a chilling reminder of past tragedies, a gunman opened fire at a church in eastern Sri Lanka on Friday, sending shockwaves through a nation still haunted by the deadly Easter Sunday bombings of 2019. The attack occurred in Manampitiya, about 160 kilometers northeast of Colombo, and came as the country remained on high alert during the Easter season.
Though no injuries were reported, the shooting shattered windows and reignited fears of renewed violence. The Sri Lankan police confirmed on Saturday that the suspect had been apprehended and preliminary investigations suggest the attack was rooted in a personal dispute with the church’s pastor, rather than a broader terror motive.
Following the 2019 Easter bombings that killed 279 people—including 45 foreign nationals—and injured over 500 others, the Sri Lankan government has enforced strict security measures around places of worship during major Christian observances. Armed police officers and military personnel were stationed at churches nationwide during this year’s Holy Week, including Good Friday and Easter Sunday celebrations.
The 2019 coordinated suicide bombings, claimed by local Islamist extremists inspired by ISIS, targeted three churches and three luxury hotels, marking one of the deadliest days in the nation’s recent history. Since then, the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka has been vocal in demanding justice for the victims and accountability from the government.
In response to the recent shooting, church leaders have urged parishioners to remain calm and continue their Easter observances in prayer and solidarity. The local diocese confirmed that services would go on as planned under heavy security surveillance.
“We are grateful no lives were lost in this senseless act,” said Father Augustine Perera of the Colombo Archdiocese. “But it reminds us how vulnerable we still are. We call on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure justice is served.”
On Monday, the Sri Lankan Catholic Church is set to honor the victims of the 2019 bombings with a special remembrance ceremony, where they will be posthumously declared “Heroes of the Faith.” The event is expected to draw large crowds and international observers, further tightening the security environment across religious sites.
Over the past six years, the Church has persistently questioned the government’s handling of the 2019 investigation, accusing successive administrations of shielding those responsible and ignoring intelligence warnings prior to the attacks. Several high-level inquiries have alleged connections between certain military intelligence officers and the extremist perpetrators, further fueling public distrust.
Church officials, including Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, have repeatedly demanded transparency and justice. “There are dark forces that want to keep the truth hidden,” the Cardinal said in a recent sermon. “But we will not rest until every victim is honored and every criminal is exposed.”
Human rights organizations and international faith-based groups have expressed concern over the latest incident. Amnesty International urged the Sri Lankan government to “maintain transparency in the investigation and uphold the rights of all religious communities.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has listed Sri Lanka as a country of concern in past reports, citing attacks on minority religious groups and a failure to prosecute perpetrators of sectarian violence.
While the motive behind the recent Manampitiya shooting appears personal, the timing—during Easter and against the backdrop of unresolved trauma—makes it a potent symbol of Sri Lanka’s fragile peace. As authorities move to investigate the incident, many hope it will not derail efforts toward reconciliation and justice for past atrocities.
As Easter services continue under armed protection, many Sri Lankans find themselves once again praying not just for resurrection, but for lasting peace.