Decision on Court Petitions Due August 12

11 August 2004 0 minutes read

On August 6 and 9, twenty-two petitions were presented to the Sri Lankan Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of a proposed law severely restricting religious conversions. Members of the Buddhist JHU party, who had introduced the bill, also presented petitions in favour. The court is expected to give their decision to the Speaker of the Parliament on August 12. If the court rejects the legislation, a second, even more restrictive law, could be tabled.


^{Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera}

Christians throughout Sri Lanka have been working together in opposition to these bills. The general secretary of the JHU party, Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera, claims that many Catholics support this legislation, despite press releases by the Catholic Bishops' Conference in opposition to the bill (see http://www.srilankanchristians.com/press2.html). Godfrey Yogarajah, General Secretary of the NCEASL, describes the proposed law as a violation of basic human rights and urges those who support the bill to reconsider. "We are already fragmented racially," he says. "Do we need religious fragmentation as well?"

Pray that the judges will recognize the restrictions that such legislation will place on religious freedom in Sri Lanka. Continue to pray for Christians throughout Sri Lanka facing opposition and violence from religious extremists.

For more information on the problems facing Christians in Sri Lanka, click here.

Sri Lanka

Current Ministry Projects
VOMC supports persecuted Christians in Sri Lanka as they witness for Christ in hostile environments through Biblical training, legal aid, and advocacy, as well as rehabilitation and emergency assistance.

Project Funds: Equipping the Saints, Legal Defence, Relief & Development, Families of Martyrs
Country Information
Population
23,326,272 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Sinhalese (74.9), Sri Lankan Tamil (11.2), Sri Lankan Moors (9.2), Indian Tamil (4.2), other (0.5)

Religion (%)
Buddhism (70.2), Hinduism (12.6), Islam (9.7), Roman Catholic (6.1), Evangelical Christianity (2.0)

Leader
Ranil Wickremesinghe (July 2022)

Government type
Presidential republic

Legal system
Mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and Jaffna Tamil customary law

Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for Sri Lanka
Let's unite our hearts in prayer for those in Sri Lanka who are being persecuted for their faith, thanking God for what He is accomplishing despite the opposition. Ask that His people will be encouraged, strengthened and equipped by the promises of the Bible – the Sword of the Spirit – knowing that He is watching over His Word to perform it (Ephesians 6:17; Jeremiah 1:12). May they not only overcome the strategies of the enemy, but also serve as effective witnesses to those in need of eternal salvation and deliverance from spiritual captivity.