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| Sunday, 18 January 2004 |
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Anti-conversion laws within 60 days by Don Asoka Wijewardena The draft anti-conversion bill that seeks to introduce stringent laws against unethical religious conversions was gazetted in Parliament last week and is expected to be implemented within the next 60 days. The proposed anti-conversion laws,with input from religious dignitaries of all denominations were drafted by a special multi-religious committee appointed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in agreement with President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and follows a widespread demand for such a law. The committee comprised Ministers T. Meheswaran, Rauff Hakeem, John Amaratunge and W. J. M. Lokubandara. Minister of Justice,Legal Reforms, National Integration and Buddha Sasana, W. J. M. Lokubandara, told the 'Sunday Observer' that an Act to provide for the protection of freedom of thought, conscience and religion guaranteed by Article 10 of the Constitution and to prohibit proselytising people fraudulently or unethically, would come into effect within the next 60 days and added that the Act would be called "The Protection of Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion Act No 10 of 2003. Minister Lokubandara explained that in accordance with the provisions in the draft legislation,no person could convert or attempt to convert any other person or assist such conversions and no person could accost any other person for the purpose of converting or attempt to convert others, no body of persons either corporate or unincorporate or any association or organisation or Trust would have as one of its aims or objects or the cumulative effect of all or any of its aims or objects to either directly or indirectly convert or facilitate the conversion of any person or to engage in any activity that would impair or influence any person's freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice. When asked about the penalties included in the legislation, Minister Lokubandara said that the provision in the Code of Criminal Procedure, any person contravening the provisions of Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the new Act would be guilty of an offence and, on conviction before a Magistrate, the person would be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five (5) years and to a fine not exceeding Rs. 100,000. He said that in the case of an offence committed against a minor, the person would, on conviction be liable for imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven (7) years and a fine not exceeding Rs. 500,000 notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Code of Criminal Procedure. Minister Lokubandara emphasised that any foreigner entering Sri Lanka on a visa issued to him, and convicted for any offence would be deported by the Minister in charge of Emigration and Immigration under the new Act. Upon such conviction, the Minister would make further orders declaring such persons as "prohibited visitor" under the Section 12 of the Act. |
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