Churches shut, Sri Lankans turn to TV

Following lethal Easter bombings, politicians show solidarity by attending Mass at archbishop's chapel on Sunday

AMPARA, Sri Lanka－Sri Lanka's Catholics on Sunday awoke to watch Mass in their homes by a televised broadcast as churches across the island nation remain shut over fears of militant attacks, a week after the Islamic State group claimed Easter suicide bombings killed more than 250 people.

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the archbishop of Colombo, delivered a homily before members of the clergy and the country's leaders in a small chapel at his Colombo residence－an extraordinary measure underlining the fear still gripping this nation of 21 million people.

"This is a time our hearts are tested by the great destruction that took place last Sunday," Ranjith said. "This is a time questions such as, does God truly love us, does He have compassion toward us, can arise in human hearts."

In a rare show of unity, President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa attended the Mass. Their political rivalry and government dysfunction are blamed for a failure to act upon near-specific information received from foreign intelligence agencies that preceded the bombings targeting three churches and three luxury hotels.

Police, meanwhile, announced the arrests of two of five people wanted in connection with the attacks after their pictures were distributed publicly.

Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said the two, Mohamed Ivuhayim Shahid Abdul Haq and Mohamed Ivuhayim Sadiq Abdul Haq, were arrested in Nawalapitiya, 125 kilometers east of Colombo. The three women remain at large. Police did not elaborate on what roles they may have played.

On Saturday, suicide bombers cornered by security forces in a hideout in eastern Sri Lanka blew themselves up killing 15 people, including six children, police said.

In the eastern district of Ampara on Sunday, soldiers guarded St. Mary Magdalen's Church, where a sign on the gate said the church and the school would be closed until May 6. A nearby mosque also had soldiers stationed outside.

At the YMCA, a group of young girls held Sunday school near a portrait of Christ. Sajith Liyanage, a 51-year-old Catholic, said he remained worried and would watch Mass on TV.

"We can't understand what the situation is right now," Liyanage said.

At Ampara's weekly Sunday market, police officers walked explosive-sniffing dogs past ripe-yellow bananas, pineapples and coconuts. Officers also searched women's bags and pushed aside brown fallen leaves, checking the grounds for any bombs.

"Everything is falling apart because of this issue. Business is almost nonexistent," said vendor Chandima Krishanthi. "That is how we are living right now."

She added: "Even though the security forces are here, it's not like earlier. We are living in fear. It's nothing like it used to be."

The IS claimed three of the militants who blew themselves up during a police raid in Ampara.

In a statement carried by the extremists' Aamaq news agency, IS identified the bombers by their aliases as Abu Hammad, Abu Sufyan and Abu al-Qa'qa. It said they opened fire with automatic weapons and "after exhausting their ammunition, detonated … their explosive belts."

The government on Saturday formally banned two extremist groups purportedly connected to the attacks, allowing officials to confiscate their property.

Sri Lanka is majority Buddhist but has significant Hindu and Muslim populations. About 7% are Christian, and most are Roman Catholic.

ASSOCIATED PRESS