The Assemblies of God pastor, who is from Sapugaskanda, was kidnapped by a man who persuaded him to visit his ailing mother with him.
Instead, the pastor was driven to a nearby worship site where, he was told, he would have to kneel and ask forgiveness of religious leaders, on pain of death.
However, when they arrived at the site, a ceremony was in progress so the kidnapper and his accomplice drove on to an isolated area, where they assaulted the pastor and threatened to destroy his church unless he closed it down. He was then abandoned.
Release partners report several incidents in the past two months in which pastors have been harassed, assaulted or ordered to stop church activities.
Please pray for church leaders in Sri Lanka, who appear to be a particular target for persecution. Ask God to protect and sustain them and strengthen their faith. Pray that He will give them wisdom to know how to look after their congregations and families. Pray especially for the pastor who was abducted in May.