The Voice of the Martyrs Canada :: Update: Sri Lanka defers anti-conversion bill debate :: Providing Information and Support for Persecuted Christians

Persecution News - Sri Lanka

Mob attacks church
(December 09, 2009)

Church attacked by Buddhists
(November 18, 2009)

Pastor assaulted
(July 22, 2009)

Sri Lanka Profile

Total Area:
65,610 sq. km

Population:
21,128,773 (July 2008 est.)

Ethnicity:
Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, Other 0.5%, Unspecified 10% (2001)

Language:
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, Other 8%

Religion:
Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, Unspecified 10% (2001)

Government Type:
Republic

Capital:
Colombo; Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital

Population Below Poverty Line:
22% (2002)

Country Reports

Update: Sri Lanka defers anti-conversion bill debate

March 04, 2009

VOMC was pleased to learn that the debate on a religious-conversion bill in Sri Lanka's parliament (read the story) has been deferred amid opposition from Christians. According to UCANews, a parliamentary committee comprised of Christian parliamentarians and leaders of political parties examined the bill on February 18 and agreed that it could have serious consequences on religious activities, spark interreligious conflict and possibly violate the country's constitution.

Pandu Bandaranayake, the Minister of Religious Affairs, confirmed Christians have called for more clarity on some words in the bill and so, despite opposition from the Buddhist-led party, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), the bill will be re-examined by the Ministry's religious consultative committee.

Continue to pray for Christians in Sri Lanka, as it is believed that this relief will be only temporary and that there will be considerable pressure by the JHU to bring back the bill virtually unchanged for debate.

The March edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter has several articles featuring the persecution facing Christians in Sri Lanka. Subscribe to the Newsletter today. To learn more about the opposition facing Christians in Sri Lanka, click here.