SRI LANKA: CHRISTIANS FACE MOUNTING LEGAL HURDLES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001260 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS MCC FOR D NASSIRY AND E BURKE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: CHRISTIANS FACE MOUNTING LEGAL HURDLES Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On September 10, Godfrey Yogarajah of the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) called on Ambassador to provide an update on the problems faced by Sri Lanka's Christian community. Yogarajah noted that Sri Lankan churches are experiencing a growing number of legal and administrative hurdles. This marks a shift, he said, from the physical attacks on churches and Christians from a few years ago. The pending anti-conversion legislation, supported by the Buddhist monk-based Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU),is an ongoing concern. Yogarajah said there are emerging signs, including a recent poster campaign, that suggest the JHU is getting ready to push forward on this issue again. Ambassador noted the importance of religious freedom to the United States Government and people, and offered to meet with senior GSL officials and make a public statement against the anti-conversion bill. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On September 10, Godfrey Yogarajah of the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) called on Ambassador to provide an update on the problems faced by Sri Lanka's Christian community. The NCEASL is the leading evangelical group in Sri Lanka, representing nondenominational Christians as well as Methodists, Anglicans, and others. ¶3. (C) Yogarajah noted that Sri Lankan churches are experiencing a growing number of legal and administrative hurdles. This marks a shift, he said, from the physical attacks on churches and Christians from a few years ago. Now, new or amended laws and regulations make it difficult for churches to exist and function. The most recent proposal, he said, is the pending noise pollution legislation. Muslims are concerned the proposal law will be used to prevent the call to prayer between 10 pm and 6 am. The Christian community fears it will be used to prohibit non-Buddhists from conducting public events. He also mentioned recent knowingly unsubstantiated allegations of child abuse against pastors which have brought church activities to a standstill until the charges could be cleared. ¶4. (C) The pending anti-conversion legislation, supported by the Buddhist monk-based Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU),is an ongoing concern. The bill currently lies with a Standing Committee in parliament. At this stage, citizens can voice their concerns to the Committee, but the Committee is under no obligation to amend the bill. The NCEASL is concerned that if the bill is passed, any social work done by Christian groups will be considered conversion activities. Yogarajah commented that, according to the draft legislation, preaching on certain basic Christian concepts would be considered forced conversion. The bill, he said, has not yet been submitted for its final reading in parliament, in part because of international pressure. He warned, however, that it could be put forward for a vote at any time. Yogarajah said there are emerging signs, including a recent poster campaign, that suggest the JHU is getting ready to push forward on this issue again. When the NCEASL voiced their concerns to President Rajapaksa, who also holds the position of Minister of Religious Affairs, he claimed he was not responsible for the bill. Yogarajah said he doubts the President will let the bill go forward if he thinks it will make the Government look bad. However, he said, the President might allow it to go through if he thinks he can earn a concession from the JHU on another issue, such as the All Parties Representative Committee process. ¶5. (C) Ambassador noted the importance of religious freedom to the United States Government and people. He offered to make a public statement against the anti-conversion bill and COLOMBO 00001260 002 OF 002 to write a letter to the relevant senior GSL officials urging them not to allow the bill to move forward. Yogarajah said both would be useful. Embassy will follow up. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: The NCEASL's complaints about legal harassment track closely with reports from other Christian groups, including churches being forced to register as businesses instead of religious institutions, being denied building permits, or simply being asked by the police to stop operating. While this kind of pressure is more subtle than the violent tactics practiced by some anti-Christian groups in the past, these restrictions appear aimed at limiting the growth of the Christian community in Sri Lanka. BLAKE