Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COLOMBO1260
2007-09-12 12:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: CHRISTIANS FACE MOUNTING LEGAL HURDLES
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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).
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
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