Second Anti-Conversion Law Presented to Sri Lankan Parliament

(Compass) – The Sri Lankan parliament may vote next week on the Act for the Protection of Religious Freedom, an anti-conversion bill proposed by the minister of Buddhist Affairs. Nonetheless, the Buddhist Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) party presented its own Bill for the Prohibition of Forcible Conversion for a second reading in parliament on May 23. The government may postpone voting on the initial bill and allow the JHU bill to move forward to “test the waters” on the new legislation. Meanwhile, human rights advocates voiced their concerns on the proposed legislation at a recent session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Ms. Asma Jahangir, Special Rapporteur for the Freedom of Religion or Belief, has agreed to visit Sri Lanka in May.