Anti-Conversion Law in Sri Lanka Brings Threat to Mission

The religious freedom of Sri Lanka is in serious crisis as the anti-conversion law appears as if it will be approved by the parliament. The bill, which is entitled “The Act for the Protection of Religious Freedom”, and claims to protect religious freedom by banning “forcible” conversion of religion, was drafted by the Minister for Buddha Sasana (Ministry of Buddhist Affairs) Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. The law appears to be geared at the mission activities of the protestant churches and foreign mission groups.

The bill is expected to be backed by the Sri Lankan Government. In the April 2004 elections, Buddhist monks from Buddhist nationalist party the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) won nine seats and promised to introduce an anti-conversion bill to protect Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

According to the report from the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC), the law will state: “No person shall convert or attempt to convert another person to another religion, [or] provide assistance or encouragement towards such conversion to another religion.” Effectively making the conversion from one religion to another under any circumstance a criminal offence.

Under the bill, even persuading someone to attend prayers of a religion of which they are not a member is potentially an offence. If conversion is “committed” by a group, “every director or shareholder ... partner, member, employee or officer of that group or company shall be guilty of an offence”. Foreigners found guilty will be expelled and banned from re-entry.

In addition, Sanghadhikarana' (informal tribunals run by Buddhist monks) will be introduced to resolve village disputes without the involvement of the police or courts of law. This is extremely dangerous as Christians may be denied justice, and be further marginalised and persecuted in many places.

In response to this bill, the most significant body in Christian unity and mission, the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) has launched a public awareness campaign. After its first advertisement appeared in the Daily News paper on 3rd July, NCEASL office was broken into. WEA RLC reported that all documents and files were systematically searched with some cash lost.

Sri Lankan Christians have long been persecuted by the government. WEA RLC said that more than 50 violent attacks against Christians and churches happened in the last six months, as well as 146 Christian places of worship being forced to close from December 2003 to March 2004.

The persecution in Sri Lanka has drawn global concern, the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) made a prayer request. A UK-based mission group, Christian Solidarity Worldwide's (CWS) Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas said, “We are deeply concerned about these developments. We wish to promote religious harmony and tolerance in Sri Lanka, and regard these proposed laws as serious infringements of religious liberty. We will be urging the Sri Lankan Government to desist from discriminatory legislation and to intervene to prevent continuing sectarian violence.”

CSW has been working with Members of Parliament in Westminster, UK to initiate an Early Day Motion (EDM) on the persecution of Christians in Sri Lanka. One-hundred and thirty-seven MPs have signed the EDM so far. They call on the Sri Lankan authorities to respect religious freedom.

The NCEASL has been in existence in Sri Lanka for 52 years. It comprises of 5 Christian denominations; namely the Dutch Reformed Church, Salvation Army, Assemblies of God of Ceylon, Calvary Church and the Foursquare Gospel Church, and over 45 local churches and organisations.

Even though the NCEASL is always under persecution from Buddhists, they still “reiterate their highest respect for all religions and commitment to maintain harmonious co-existence and interaction with their Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim brethren”, as written in a statement issued in January 2004 after some churches were destroyed by mobs of militant Buddhist protestors.