Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith made the declaration in a letter dated Thursday that was sent to church officials. In the letter that appeared on social media Thursday, Ranjith said he was closing churches and Catholic schools throughout Sri Lanka and canceling Mass "until further notice." Edmund Tillakaratne, spokesman for the Colombo diocese said Thursday that Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith had canceled all Sunday services in the diocese based on the latest security reports. Muslims last week were told to stay home for Friday prayers and all of Sri Lanka's Catholic churches were closed. Sri Lanka's Muslim leaders, however, were encouraging believers to return to mosques for Friday prayers, according to N.M. Ameen, president of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka.

Source: Fox News May 02, 2019 16:30 UTC