Subj: Sri Lanka: The Call for Anti-Conversion Legislation. Dear friends, The following posting is an update on the progression of anti-conversion legislation in Sri Lanka. This overview and update has been provided by the Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka - EK ----------------------------------------------------- THE CALL FOR LEGISLATION IN SRI LANKA Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka The call to introduce anti-conversion laws in Sri Lanka has been around for several years, championed by the fundamentalist Buddhist groups. It is a direct reaction to the growth of the Evangelical Christian Church in this predominantly Buddhist land. However, successive Governments chose not to introduce such a Bill. In November 2002, the Hindu Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Maheshwaran, on his return from a visit to Tamil Nadu in India, made a public statement vowing to introduce a bill in Parliament curbing religious conversions. This was in the wake of the introduction of an anti-conversion bill in Tamil Nadu State, India. This is the first time that this call is being championed by a Cabinet Minister. The anti-Christian lobby, consisting of Buddhist, Hindu and some Catholic groups, endorse the Minister's stand. Mr. Maheshwaran did in subsequent public speeches (reported in the Tamil language press) reiterate his intention of introducing the bill to Parliament in February 2003.There have been some public demonstrations both for and against the proposed legislation. It is believed that the draft legislation will be modelled on the Tamil Nadu bill. Since the Government's official response to this situation has been silence, it is probable that it will be introduced in Parliament by Mr. Maheshwaran as an individual Member's bill. According to law, a bill tabled in Parliament has to be passed by the Parliament for it to have force of law. We fear that it might attract wide support in Parliament both among the government members and the Opposition, including the vociferous Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MPs. In the event that it is voted in to effect by the Parliament, the only recourse is to challenge it in the Supreme Court. However, faith in the impartiality of the judiciary is low. Tamil Nadu Anti-Conversion Bill. The draft of the Sri Lanka Bill - we learn from reliable sources - is ready. It is modelled on the Tamil Nadu Ordinance. We have learned from reliable sources that that the definitions in Section 2 of the Tamil Nadu Ordinance remain the same in the Sri Lanka draft. For example - "allurement" - offer of any temptation in the form of a gift, gratification, either in cash or kind, or a grant of any material benefit (monetary or otherwise). "convert" - to make one person to renounce one religion and adopt another religion. "force" - include a show or force of a threat of injury of any kind including threat of divine displeasure or social ex-communication: The draft remains a secret document and we have no access to its full contents. END **WEA Religious-Liberty e-mail Conference** <> This information is provided to Religious Liberty Conference users. "World Evangelical Alliance - Religious Liberty e-mail Conference." To subscribe to the Religious Liberty e-mail Conference, please send your request to the conference moderator, Elizabeth Kendal <>. Please include your name and country or state of residence. The Religious Liberty Conference is a moderated conference sharing information on the state of religious liberty and persecution around the world with those with a special interest in the field. Most members are involved in church-based religious liberty advocacy, academic research, missions leadership, creative-access missions, religious media, or have prayer networks supporting these groups, although anyone is welcome to join. Postings average one or two per week. Information shared does not necessarily reflect the opinion of World Evangelical Alliance, or of the WEA Religious Liberty Commission. For more information on the World Evangelical Alliance, please take a look at our site on the web at <http://www.WorldEvangelical.org>. For more stories on religious liberty/persecution issues, click on "Persecuted Church News." For more about the Religious Liberty Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance (RLC), see http://www.WorldEvangelical.org/rlc.html Advocates International serves as the legal and judicial advisor to the RLC. Advocates International links many Christian lawyers and judges around the world and has been involved in religious liberty issues for many years. Their website is located at <http://www.advocatesinternational.org>. For those of you who would like more detailed information on situations for prayer and intercession, we recommend that you subscribe to the WEA Religious Liberty Prayer List. Each week a different nation or situation is highlighted. To subscribe, send an empty e-mail to <> with any or no subject.
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