SRI LANKAN CABINET APPROVES BILL PROHIBITING RELIGIOUS CONVERSIONThe Sri Lankan cabinet has approved a bill to prevent conversion of Buddhists to other religions. Last month the Jathika Hela Urumaya party (JHU) put forward a bill to parliament on the “prohibition of forcible conversion.” In addition, the Minister of Buddhism submitted his own bill to prohibit “forcible conversion” on June 16. The next day the cabinet approved the bill to be presented to parliament. The scope of the minister’s act is wider in interpretation than the bill tabled by the JHU. This act effectively makes conversion from one religion to another an offense under the law. Section 2 of the draft act stipulates that “no person shall convert nor attempt to convert or aid or abet acts of conversion of a person to a different religion.” If enacted, the law would effectively remove individuals’ fundamental right of embracing a religion of their choice, effectively outlawing the act of conversion.From the news flow at Intercessors Network
