Anti-Conversion Law Threatens Safety and Freedom

The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka is asking that Christians around the world pray and lobby on their behalf concerning a Private Member's Bill proposed by Omalpe Sobitha Thero of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) in 2004.  The proposed "Prohibition of Forcible Conversions Bill" passed its 2nd Reading in Parliament and is being considered by a Standing Committee of parliamentarians.

On the 23rd of May 2006, a three member delegation from NCEASL made oral and written submissions to the Parliamentary Standing Committee which is considering this Bill, objecting to the entire Bill. The Bill will next be taken up for voting in Parliament, where it can be passed and made law with a simple majority (majority of one vote).

The NCEASL has also learned that there are attempts to introduce other alternate legislation which will also regulate propagation and religious conversions. As it is, with no such law in place, there is widespread harassment and intimidation of Christians, forced closure of Churches and physical attacks on Christian citizens. Such a law will only serve to legitimize rampant harassment of minority Christians and violation of the right to religion and worship.

In August 2004, NCEASL and 21 other petitioners including Christian, Hindu and civil rights groups challenged this Bill before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court determined that two clauses of the Bill were unconstitutional. The Bill that is being considered by Parliament has been amended, deleting the two offending clauses. However, the vague definitions and the excessive punishments still remain.

With the country preoccupied by the threat of a renewed civil war, pray that this legislation will not be allowed to slip in.  Pray for the work of the NCEASL as they seek to uphold the rights of Christians in Sri Lanka.  The Voice of the Martyrs urges Christians from around the world to write to their foreign affairs ministers, urging them to pressure the Sri Lankan government not to pass legislation that would restrict the rights of Sri Lankans to practice and change their religion.

Click here for more information and links on the threats facing Sri Lankan Christians.  A 14-minute excerpt of VOMC’s extensive video report “Faith Under Fire: Sri Lanka” may be viewed on www.vomcanada.com.  You can also order the complete report online.

  • Current Ministry Projects

    VOMC supports persecuted Christians in Sri Lanka as they witness for Christ in hostile environments through Biblical training, legal aid, and advocacy, as well as rehabilitation and emergency assistance.

    Project Funds: Equipping the Saints, Legal Defence, Relief & Development, Families of Martyrs

  • Country Information

    Population
    23,326,272 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Sinhalese (74.9), Sri Lankan Tamil (11.2), Sri Lankan Moors (9.2), Indian Tamil (4.2), other (0.5)

    Religion (%)
    Buddhism (70.2), Hinduism (12.6), Islam (9.7), Roman Catholic (6.1), Evangelical Christianity (2.0)

    Leader
    President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (Sept 2024)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    Mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and Jaffna Tamil customary law

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Sri Lanka

    Let's unite our hearts in prayer for those in Sri Lanka who are being persecuted for their faith, thanking God for what He is accomplishing despite the opposition. Ask that His people will be encouraged, strengthened and equipped by the promises of the Bible – the Sword of the Spirit – knowing that He is watching over His Word to perform it (Ephesians 6:17; Jeremiah 1:12). May they not only overcome the strategies of the enemy, but also serve as effective witnesses to those in need of eternal salvation and deliverance from spiritual captivity.

Sri Lanka News

  • Church Pressured to Halt Christian Activities
    A church congregation in Sri Lanka
    A congregation in Sri Lanka.
    Photo: VOMC

    Members of the Way to the Comfort Ministry Church in Seethwaka, Sri Lanka, are receiving ongoing demands to cease all Christian activities in their village. On January 26th, Buddhist monks approached the church leadership and insisted that the pastor stop holding worship services, claiming that only Buddhist practices are permitted within the village. They further accused the pastor of forcibly converting people to Christianity and receiving foreign aid.

  • Church Services Restricted to Pastor's Family
    A woman is raising her hands in worship.
    Photo: VOMC 

    In July, a complaint against the Jesus Jeewamanai Revival Church in Polgahawela was issued by some villagers and Buddhist leaders who opposed the worship services that were taking place at the pastor's home. In response, police requested that the church restrict the number of people attending the gatherings, particularly by limiting participants who were visiting from outside of the community, until guidance was received from the authorities on how to handle the situation. For more information about this incident, go to this report.

  • Church Building Pelted with Stones; Worshippers Restricted Access
    Christians are seated on floor mats as they pray together. Two women are in the foreground.
    A group of Christians praying together.
    Photo: VOMC
     

    The Jesus Jeewamanai Revival Church in the town of Polgahawela has been the target of attacks perpetrated by disgruntled members of the community who oppose their place of worship. On July 7th and 11th, stones were thrown at the church building. Then, on July 14th, before the Christians' Sunday services were scheduled to begin, villagers blocked the road leading to the building in order to prevent the congregants and their pastor from accessing the facility.

  • Arrests During House Church Construction
    People are in and around a small building under construction.
     
     

    On June 13th, the pastor of God's Kingdom Gospel Church in Kandapola, Sri Lanka, was constructing a house church building, together with the support of other pastors and church leaders, when he was approached by a junior manager. The pastor was questioned by the manager as to whether or not the Christians had permission to build a church.