In a troubling incident that has raised significant safety concerns, a gunman opened fire at the Living Christ Church in Manampitiya village, Sri Lanka, on Friday evening. The shooting occurred just days before the country is set to commemorate the victims of the tragic 2019 Easter bombings, an event that still weighs heavily on the national conscience.

The attack took place around 7 PM local time at the church located on Ayurveda Place, approximately 160 kilometers northeast of Colombo, Sri Lankas capital. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the shooting resulted in damage to a church window. This has prompted a swift and thorough investigation by local law enforcement agencies.

According to a police statement cited by the news agency AFP, initial investigations indicate that the shooter, identified as a 38-year-old man from Main Road, Manampitiya, may have targeted the church due to personal enmity with the pastor. This personal motive suggests a disturbing element of premeditation behind the act. Following a tip-off from the public, police managed to arrest the suspect and recovered a locally-made firearm believed to have been used in the attack.

Eyewitnesses provided crucial accounts during the early stages of the investigation. They reported seeing the suspect approach the church gate as if assessing the surroundings, only to return to the road where he fired a single shot before fleeing from the scene. Authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover further details about the incident, including the motivations behind this alarming act of violence.

The timing of this shooting is particularly concerning for the people of Sri Lanka, as the nation remains on high alert during the Easter season. This year marks the sixth anniversary of the horrific Easter Sunday bombings in 2019, an event that claimed the lives of 279 individuals, including 45 foreign nationals, and left over 500 others injured in coordinated attacks across three churches and three hotels. In response to the heightened fears, armed police and military personnel have been deployed to nearly all churches across the island, creating a visible security presence.

As part of the commemorative activities this year, the Catholic Church intends to honor the victims of the 2019 bombings in a special memorial service on Easter Monday, referring to them as 'Heroes of the Faith.' However, it is important to note that many within the Church community continue to express deep frustration over the ongoing lack of accountability and transparency regarding the attacks. Reports from AFP indicate that the Church has repeatedly accused successive Sri Lankan governments of failing to hold accountable those suspected to have links to the bombers. Previous high-level investigations have hinted at possible connections between military intelligence units and the individuals responsible for these devastating attacks, raising further concerns about the integrity of the ongoing investigations.