Sri-Lanka Anti-Conversion Law Appears Imminent

Release No: 09-11
By Noel Hwande

Feb. 6— SRI LANKA: The staff at Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM)-Sri Lanka are asking for prayers as a Buddhist political party is very close to getting a bill voted into law that would effectively outlaw religious conversions. The Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion bill is up for a vote this month.

"If this bill comes to action there will be more problems for churches and Christian organizations," said LHM-Sri Lanka's director. 

The anti-conversion bill was first submitted five years ago by the Jathika Hela Urumaya political party - a party led by Buddhist monks. The bill proposes heavy fines and lengthy prison times (up to seven years) for anybody that tries to convert a Sri Lankan citizen from one religion to another using "force, fraud or allurement." The harshest penalties will be given to those who are convicted of converting women or children. 

While LHM-Sri Lanka and many other Christian organizations do not forcibly convert people, the anti-conversion bill is viewed by many as a means to suppress the growth of Christianity in Sri Lanka. The biggest concern is that such a law would put many Christian organizations and missionaries at risk of imprisonment or even persecution, almost overnight.

Sri Lanka is a predominantly Buddhist country with approximately 70% of the population said to practice Buddhism. Hindus, Christians, and Muslims make up a majority of the remaining populace. Over the years, figures have shown a decline in the number of people practicing Buddhism, and activists have increasingly pointed at Christianity as the reason for that decline.

"We don't know for sure what will happen, but we trust God. He is the one who called us to serve Him, and He will continue to help us share His News with the people in Sri Lanka," the director concluded.

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