Asla, 'witness of faith' whose death united Christians and Muslims in Negombo
The young daughter of a mix couple is among the victims of the Easter 2019 bombings. The Archdiocese of Colombo included her name in the list of martyrs of the 21st century sent to the Jubilee Committee. She was preparing for her baptism when she was killed in the church blast. She was buried in an Islamic cemetery. Her mother told AsiaNews that she invited others to pray, but “God took her”.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – “Although Asla had a Muslim name, she longed to be baptised as a daughter of Jesus. She prayed at home, and made up small prayers that she recited on various occasions,” said Rupika Rosairo speaking to AsiaNews about her daughter, Fatima Asla, one of the victims of the Easter bombings that shook Sri Lanka in 2019.
“That Easter Sunday, she went to Mass with great joy to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. God took her in the church. In my sorrow I am happy to know that she has also been included among the witnesses of the faith, together with the other 115 killed in the church of Katuwapitiya in Negombo.”
Even though her heart still aches from the loss of her school-aged daughter, Rupika Rosairo expresses her joy for the gesture made by the Catholic Church in Colombo to include her name in the list of witnesses of the faith sent to Rome for the Jubilee, which by the will of Pope Francis also includes the memory of the martyrs of the 21st century.
Asla's mother, Rupika Rosairo, is a Sinhalese Catholic. Her husband is Muslim and because of this, her three children - two girls and a boy - were given Muslim names. But Asla wanted to be baptised and took part in the activities of the Catholic community.
"We thank Card Malcolm Ranjith and all the members of the (Jubilee) committee for taking such a beautiful and significant step,” Rupika Rosairo said.
“Asla was preparing to enter the baptismal journey that year. She went to church and attended Mass whenever possible, and was learning prayers. She always spoke of Jesus and said that she saw him in our room and talked to him. But we didn't pay much attention to what she shared with us... thinking that she was still a small child.”
“On that day, she had gone to church with my mother and older daughter for the morning Mass, while I go with my young son to the evening Mass. But Asla, my angel, did not return home like every other day with the joy of the Risen Lord.
“We got a message about a blast at the church, and we immediately rushed there. I still have a horrible picture that I can't even explain... My eldest daughter was holding Asla in her arms, and she was silent. She and my mother were also injured.”
"We buried her in the Muslim cemetery in Negombo,” Rupika said. “Even though she was getting ready to fulfil her dream of baptism, she was legally a Muslim. So we respect that. I should also mention all the support from the Muslim community in Negombo, for which I am grateful. They have been with us from the beginning.”
“Since that terrible day in April 2019, on the 21st of every month, without fail, I attend Mass for the soul of my darling daughter and hand out alms in her memory. That, I will continue to do.”
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22/04/2019 15:19
14/03/2022 13:03
