Second Anti-Conversion Law in Sri Lankan Parliament

The Parliament of Sri Lanka may soon vote on legislation for the Protection of Religious Freedom - an anti-conversion law proposed by Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, the Minister of Buddhist Affairs.

In addition, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), the radical Buddhist party, has placed its bill for the Prohibition of Forcible Conversion on the Parliamentary Order Paper. The bill will be presented before the Sri Lankan parliament for the second time, and a reading is scheduled for 23 May 2005.

Last year in August the same proposition was taken to the Supreme Court and it was found that some of the sections of the bill were unconstitutional. The Supreme Court's recommendation was to revise the bill once more. It seems that JHU has ignored these recommendations as the bill will now be presented in parliament for a second time.

Spokesman of the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) said Sri Lankan authorities may postpone voting on the bill proposed by the Buddhist Affairs minister and let the JHU bill move forward to "test the waters."

Human rights advocates recently have expressed their concerns about Sri Lanka's religious freedom at the 61st session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR).

The Becket Fund, an organisation promoting religious freedom, proclaimed that this legislation would affect the citizens of Sri Lanka in practicing their chosen faith.

They also stated that approval of this legislation could restrict tsunami relief efforts, since the volunteers may be charged for attempting to convert tsunami victims.

Wannakuwattewaduge Fernando, representing the Sri Lankan government, immediately rejected this claim. However, Sri Lankan representatives later admitted that the anti-conversion legislation was being considered in Parliament.

At the beginning of April, Godfrey Yogarajah, general secretary of the NCEASL presented facts regarding violence against Christians, which many think may even increase if the law is passed through the parliament to the UNCHR.

As an immediate answer, the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ms Asma Jahangir agreed to visit Sri Lanka in May.

Ms Jahangir noted: "Where acts of violence or other acts of religious intolerance are committed against individuals, states have both an obligation to protect and an obligation to remedy the situation. Perpetrators must be brought to justice and the states must multiply the efforts to promote a culture of religious tolerance."

After the second reading of the bill in May, it will be discussed and some revisions may be undertaken before the final vote takes place. NCEASL with the support of other organisations will look for permission to object to the bill if it does reach the final stage.