KALUTARA, Sri Lanka (CNS) Sri Lankan Catholics prayed for their cricket heroes injured in an attack in Pakistan and condemned Sri Lankan and Pakistani terrorism. The Sri Lankan cricket team was on its way to play the second day of a match in Lahore, Pakistan, March 3 when it was ambushed. At least seven players were wounded in the shootout and six police officers and two civilians were killed.
Three of the injured cricketers were Catholics, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News.
It reported that one of the injured was Ajantha Mendis, 23, a rising star on the world cricket scene, a second lieutenant in the Sri Lankan army and a Catholic. In Mendis’ hometown of Kalutara, less than 15 miles south of the capital Colombo, people were in shock.
"Thank God they are now safe and secure. We all prayed to St. Anthony when we heard of this attack," said Rasik Lakmal Fernando, a school cricket player. "It is tragic this has happened."
Mendis’ mother, Ranjani Sriyani Mendis, said March 4: "Ajantha called us from the scene of the terror attack and said they suddenly heard a noise like a firecracker and that the bus came to a halt. Some of the guys were lying on top of each other and taking shelter below the seats.
"He asked us not to panic and said the team was fine. At once I knelt down and I prayed to God," she said.
Father Prasad Perera, pastor of St. Anthony’s Church in Kadalana village where Mendis lives, said the Mendis family members are active parishioners.
"Before going for any tour he (Ajantha Mendis) comes here, prays and receives my blessings. This time also he came," Father Perera said.
"It’s a pity these terrorists attacked a group of civilians — some foreigners who came there to play cricket and who had nothing to do with the politics of the country," he said.
Dilhara Fernando and Chaminda Vaas were the other Catholic cricketers injured.
The 15-member team flew to Colombo March 4, and team members were taken to a hospital.
Vice captain Kumar Sangakkara, also wounded in the attack, said the players were relieved to be home.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, some Sri Lankan officials expressed fear of a possible link with an ongoing military offensive against ethnic Tamil rebels. The separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have committed acts of terrorism in their effort to establish a Tamil state in northern and eastern Sri Lanka.
Pakistan also has a problem with terrorist cells linked to the Taliban, an Islamic terrorist movement that operates primarily in Afghanistan.
Pakistani police have detained 20 suspects in connection with the incident. As of March 4, details had not been released about the suspects.
Peter Jacob, executive director of the Pakistani Catholic bishops’ justice and peace commission, based in Lahore, condemned the attack.
"The commission expresses sympathy and embarrassment at the incident," he said. "It is very sad that our guests were targeted. It seems that terrorism is expanding its boundaries. We hope that the government does its best to curb the menace instead of making vague interpretations."
The Sri Lankan team had agreed to tour Pakistan despite a high security risk. It replaced India, whose cricket team refused to go amid heightened tensions in the wake of the terrorist assault in Mumbai in November.
