A BILL ON PROHIBITION OF FORCIBLE CONVERSION OF RELIGIONS (Draft)

An act to provide for prohibitions of Conversion from one religion to another by use of force or Allurement or by fraudulent means and for matters incidental there with incidental thereto.

5. WHEREAS, Buddhism being the foremost religion professed and practiced by the majority of people of Sri Lanka, due to the introduction by great Tathagatha, the Sambuddha in the 8th month after he had attained Buddhahood on his visit Mahiyangan in Sri Lanka and establishment after the arrival of Mahinda hero:

10. AND WHEREAS, the State has the duty to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana while assuring all the religions the rights generated by Article 10 and 14 (1) (e) of the Constitution of the Republic of Sri Lanka:

AND WHEREAS, the Buddhist and the non Buddhist are now under serious threat of forcible conversations and proselyzing by coercion or by allurement or by fraudulent means:

15. AND WHEREAS, the Mahasanga and other religious leaders realizing the need to protect and promote religious harmony among all religions, historically enjoyed by the people of Sri Lanka:

BE it enacted by the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as follows: -

20. 1. This Act may be called the Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religions Act. No. Have 2004.

(Short title)

2. No person shall convert or attempt to convert, either directly or other wise, any person from one religion to another by the use of force or by allurement or by any fraudulent means nor shall any person aid or abet any such conversions

25. (Forcible conversion illegal.)

3. (a) Whoever adopts a religion from one religion to another shall within such period as may be prescribed by the Minister, send intimation to that effect to the Divisional Secretary of the area in which such adoption took place. (Intimation to the Divisional Secretary).

(b) Who ever converts any person from one religion to another either by performing any ceremony by himself for such conversion as a facilitator or by taking part directly or indirectly in such ceremony shall within such period as may be prescribed by the Minister, send in an intimation to that effect to the Divisional Secretary of the area in which such adoption took place.

4. (a) Notwithstanding contrary to any provision in the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, whoever contravenes the provisions of section 2 above shall, without prejudice to any civil liability, shall be guilty of any offence and on conviction before a magistrate be liable to be punished with imprisonment for a term which may not exceeding five years and also be liable to a fine not exceeding Rupees one hundred and fifty thousand:

Provided that whoever contravenes the provisions of section 2 above in respect of a minor, a woman or a person referred to in schedule I hereof, shall on conviction before a Magistrate be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years and also be liable to a fine not exceeding rupees five hundred thousand.

(b) Whoever fails, without sufficient cause, to comply with the provisions of section 3 (a) and (b) above shall on conviction before a Magistrate be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or with a fine, not exceeding rupees one hundred and fifty thousand:

5. Proceedings before a Magistrate may be instituted in one of the following ways:

(a) by the Divisional Secretary of the area or an officer authorized by him for the purpose;

(b) by the Police in terms of Section 136 of the Criminal Procedure Act, No. 15 of 1979, upon a complaint made to the Police by a person aggrieved by the offence or in the case of a Minor, by his or her father or mother or a lawful Guardian or any other interested person who has reasons to believe that the provisions of the act has been violated, acting in the public interest;

(c) by a person aggrieved by the offence;
(d) by an Attorney-at-Law;
(e) by any person authorized by the Minister.

6. The Minister for the time being in charge of Justice may make rules and regulations for the enforcing and carrying out the provisions of this act and all such rules and regulations so made shall be published in the Government Gazette and shall be placed before the Parliament for approval.

7. In the event of any inconsistency between the Sinhala and Tamil texts of this Act. The Sinhala text shall prevail.

8. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

(a) "allurement" means offer of any temptation in the form of-

(1) any gift or gratification whether in cash or kind;
(2) grant of any material benefit, whether monetary or otherwise;
(3) grant of employment of grant of promotion in employment;

(b) "convert" means to make one person to renounce one religion and adopt another religion;

(c) "force" shall include a show of force including a threat or harm or injury of any kind or threat of religious displeasure or condemnation of any religion or religious faith;

(d) "fraudulent" means includes misinterpretation or any other fraudulent contrivance;

(e) "Minor" means a person under eighteen years of age.

SCHEDULE 1

1. Those persons classified as samurdhi beneficiaries
2. Prison inmates
3. Inmates of rehabilitation centres
4. Inmates of detention centres
5. Physically or mentally retarded
6. Employees of an organization
7. Members of the armed forces or police
8. Students
9. Inmates of hospitals and or places of healing
10. Inmates of refugee centres
11. Any other category as may be prescribed by the minister by regulations

  • 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.