Sri-Lankan Parliament to Vote on Anti-Conversion Bill

(Compass) – The Sri Lankan government may adopt anti-conversion legislation in April when the decisive vote is taken on the “Act for the Protection of Religious Freedom.” Approved in principle by the cabinet in June 2004, the Act stipulates that no person should “attempt to convert or aid or abet acts of conversion of a person to a different religion.” Christians say the pending law contravenes religious freedom guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And despite a Supreme Court ruling last year that declared a similar bill unconstitutional, many believe the Act could pass. “Parliament will only vote against this bill if it is held under a secret ballot,” a Methodist minister told Compass. “Nobody will raise their hands in public to vote against it.”