A group of men in military clothing arrived at the nearby St. Anthony's Church and changed into civilian dress. They entered St. Mary's Cathedral through a side entrance at the front of the cathedral. It was around 1.10am on Christmas Day and Pararajasingham was receiving Holy Communion from the Bishop. The group of men started moving towards the altar. As Pararajasingham returned to his pew the men started firing, causing the congregation, including the Bishop, to dive to the floor. Pararajasingham was killed on the spot and seven others, including Sugunam, were injured. The gunmen exited the cathedral down the aisle, firing their guns into the air. Some eyewitnesses reported that the gunmen left in a rickshaw and headed towards the Patpodi camp, an old tooth powder factory used by the government backed Karuna Group/TMVP paramilitary group.