USCIRF Worries about Inter-Religious Climate in Sri Lanka

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has expressed concerns about increasing religious tensions in Sri Lanka. As stated in a press release, the government response to the ongoing violence against religious minorities is inadequate.

The religious tensions originated very much after last year's tsunami, as unspecified and unconfirmed reports informed of alleged forced conversion by relief workers.

At that time, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), an opposition party pushed forth for new legislation in the parliament that would, if brought into force, fail to match the international standards regarding freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief.

The USCIRF is concerned about the new proposed legislation and the atmosphere of inter-religious conflicts and intolerance occurring in Sri Lanka. The commission is urging all involved parties to co-work and "to restore a climate of religious respect."

The USCIRF's message to the Sri Lankan government it urges it to "refrain from passing laws that are inconsistent with international standards."

"The approval of this law would therefore signal that the government of Sri Lanka is moving in the wrong direction with regard to the protection of religious freedom as outlined in Article 18 of the ICCPR," said USCIRF Chair Michael Cromartie.

The proposed legislation also appears to violate the standards of protection for religious freedom found in Sri Lanka's own constitution, which guarantees the right of every person in Sri Lanka to "freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice."

It is also stressed to promote religious freedom for all and that might not be ensured in the draft legislation. The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Asma Jahangir commented after her brief visit in May: "[The new legislation] could result in the persecution of religious minorities rather than the protection and promotion of religious tolerance."

According to the reports, the number of attacks targeting churches, ministers and other religious minorities has increased within the past few years. Violations against believers, desecrating or burning of churches were allegedly carried out or inspired by the nationalist Buddhist groups.

Over the past two years, up to 140 churches had to be closed down after being attacked, intimidated and harassed. Though the aggression against minorities has decreased over the past year, in May of this year it once again began to rise.

"Though the Sri Lankan government has condemned the attacks in the past, the Commission is concerned that the renewed violence is a sign that the authorities are not taking sufficient steps to halt the burgeoning climate of religious intolerance in Sri Lanka," said Cromartie.

"Of particular concern are reports, including from the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Asma Jahangir, that the relevant authorities in Sri Lanka have made little effort to pursue the perpetrators of these attacks and hold them to account."

"Despite years of civil war, Sri Lanka by many standards is a functioning democracy, which is a commendable achievement," noted Commissioner and past USCIRF Chair Preeta D. Bansal. "Yet, the renewal of violence against religious minorities, as well as reintroduction of this legislation on conversions, represents a setback."