Crooswatta Church in Kotugoda Parish was attacked by an unruly mob today, 06th Dec.2009, after the Holy Mass was celebrated in the morning by the Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Jude Denzil Lakshman. An infuriated mob of more than 1000 people armed with battons and swords, set fire to the vehicles and went berserk attacking the statues and the faithful who were about to go home after the Holy Mass. They also damaged the statues, Holy Altar, chairs and everything that was inside church.

On 28th July 2008, the Supreme Court ordered the completion of the construction of the Crooswatta Church, which was stopped following a repeated disruption by an armed group, and also Holy Eucharist to be celebrated and Daham Pasal classes ( Catechism Classes ) to be held and directed the Inspector General of Police to produce any body who violates the order before court.

The construction work commenced few days ago by the Parish Priest Rev. Fr.Lakshman and on the following day the lorry drivers transporting building materials, were threatened not to bring anything to the site of the church. Inspite of few incidents, the completion of the roof work continued until today when the mob attacked the church.

A Catholic who participated in the Holy Mass said, " Fr. Lakshman came out of the Church after the Holy Mass to greet the faithful and then we saw this mob was coming towards the church. As soon as the mob approached the church, they set fire to Fr. Lakshman's car and then someone attempted to strike him with a sword, but Fr. Lakshman had a narrow save when a youth pulled him out of the strike, and then damaged all other motor bikes, ordinary cycles of the poor people including a three-wheeler. Some persons armed with swords and battons went on beating the people. There are six Catholics in the hospital with cuts and injuries".

Since the Crooswatta church is closer to the Ekala Air Force camp, the sooner the news went around, Air Force personnel were deployed to bring the situation under control and to provide security to the people. His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksha having heard about the situation, had immediately directed the IGP Mahinda Balasuriya and several other top rank Police Personnel to visit the area and to provide immediate security. IGP Mahinda Balasuriya, several other DIGs and Hon. Sarath Gunaratne Deputy Minister of Aviation, personally visited the church site and made investigations of the incidents.

IGP Balasuriya ordered a police post to be established around the church site and deploy sufficient police personnel and STF to protect the church and the civilians. The Catholics complained to IGP that the OIC of Ja-ela police has been very passive in all the recent incidents and even when people caught few members of the mob and then handed them over to the police, the police had released them. According to the information received only one person has been arrested. It was this same Officer in Charge of Ja-ela Police abruptly stopped the celebration of the Holy Mass by Rev. Fr. Siri Cooray on 06th October 2007. Even when the IGP Balasuriya visited the Crooswatta church site today, OIC of Ja-ela Police was not to be seen in the site. The Episcopal Vicar of the Region Very Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, Rev. Fr. Ranjan Silva-Dean of Tudella and several Rev. Fathers who were present discussed with the IGP Balasuriya about the continuous incidents that had taken place and also requested him to inquire as to why Ja-ela Police had failed to give the necessary protection, inspite of an order given by the Supreme Court.

His Grace Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith spoke over the phone to several DIGs present and the Commander of the Air Force Base at Ekala and requested further protection not only to the church but also very specially to the lives of the Catholics.

The mob went berserk attacking and damaging the houses of the Catholics in the area and one mother cried before the IGP, " these people not only destroyed everything in my house, they destroyed even the milk-bottle of my baby. Sir, last time also they attacked my house and caused heavy damages costing nearly Rs. 300,000/- to repair the house ".

Rev. Fr. Lakshman categorically denied the baseless rumors that spread around, saying that a Catholic had thrown a stone at a Buddhist place and said no Catholic is involved in such an incident. It looks very evident that the attack was very well planned and the mob waited till the Holy Mass was over for the Priest and the Catholics to come out of the church. The Buddhists and the Catholics have been living in harmony in the area and the police need to find the culprits behind these incidents instigating attacks on this church at Crooswatta.

There are nearly 295 Catholic families living at Crooswatta, belonging to the Parish of Kotugoda, which is about 4km away from Ja-ela.

Several other government officers, including Katana electorate organizer Dr. Sudharshani Fernandopulle and UNP MP John Amaratunga were present at the site.

The police must reveal the truth behind the attack on the church and the what led to this infuriated mob to go on attacking not only the church, but also the lives of the people and their houses as well.

When the Crooswatta Church matter was taken up today at the Ja-ela Magistrate Courts, Hon. Magistrate Jayaki De Alwis having listened to the presentations of both the parties, affirmed the Religious Freedom in the country and said that " everyone has the right to practice one's faith" and directed the oppostion party to prersent their objections on 26th March 2008, if the Church at Crooswatta is being built on an illegal land.

Presidential Counsel Hon. Rienzie Arsakularatne made the presentations behalf of the Archbishop of Colombo and was assisted by Lawyer Wasantha Batagoda.

Church land was brought by the Archbishop of Colombo and all the necessary permission has been obtained according to the regulations in the country.

This affirmation makes the way for the Catholics at Crooswatta to practice their faith and continue to celebrate Holy Eucharist and have Daham Pasal classes [ Catechism ] for the children, who could not have classes since last September 2007.