A Christian pastor was attacked on Monday by three men in Ampara, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka, while returning home from a church group meeting in Uhana, reports Christian Solidarity Worldwide. He is currently receiving treatment for his injuries in hospital.

The pastor, the Rev Fernando from the Methodist Church in Ampara, was accosted by the three men at 4.40pm. The men asked him to accompany them to a house, claiming that there were people there who wished to become Christians.

According to the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL), the pastor sensed that the men were trying to lure him into a trap, and asked them to come to the church instead if they wished to discuss Christianity. The men then attacked him, and warned him not to return to the village.

The attackers are believed to be members of the Gramarakshaka Niladhari or "Home Guards", an auxiliary force established by the Government to assist the police and military in security duties. The attack comes four months after a Home Guard in uniform shot dead Pastor Neil Edirisinghe, on 17 February. The gunman also shot the pastor's wife, leaving her critically injured. The accused is in custody, and his court hearing resumed today.

Alexa Papadouris, Advocacy Director at Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), said: "We are deeply concerned over the continuing incidents of violence against Christians in Sri Lanka, and in particular the fact that [Monday's] attack was reportedly carried out by members of a government-sponsored security force.

"We urge the Sri Lankan Government to take action to protect the Christian community, and to ensure that the perpetrators of such violence are brought to justice."