Months after the Easter Sunday church bombing, Christians in Sri Lanka continue to face violence. Six believers endured violent attacks on their way to church in late September.

The attack, one in a series of incidents that took place over the course of two weeks, shows the persecution building against Christians in Sri Lanka.

Using sticks, approximately ten villagers attacked six Christians preparing to attend a religious service in the district of Batticaloa on September 21, 2019, Barnabas Fund reports.

Following the attack, five of those injured were taken to hospital, where they were admitted. According to local sources, the attack was one of the numerous and regular instances of harassment from a consistent group of villagers.

Two of those involved in the attack were arrested and appeared in court on September 22.

Prior instances of violence against Christians in the country took place on September 14, when Christians in the Gampaha district were instructed to stop holding worship services by police and Buddhist monks, and on September 11, when a pastor was told his request for financial assistance for his church had been blocked by local authorities.

Bishop Asiri Perera stated in August of 2019 that Sri Lankan Christians have not been treated as equal citizens within the country's borders. At that time, the Sri Lanka Methodist Church President spoke of his concerns regarding the lack of action taken by police responding to an attack on a student in Bible college by Buddhist monks.

Sri Lanka is considered to be the 46th-worst place for persecution against Christians, according to Open Doors USA's World Watch List. Persecution in the country is high, with religious nationalism listed as the main persecution type encountered by believers.