The Sri Lankan parliament will soon vote on bills that would silence religious expression and effectively outlaw all religious conversions in the country.

The first proposed law is a private member's bill (PDF format) introduced by a member of Jathika Hela Urumaya, an opposition party of Buddhist monks.

The Sri Lanka government then proposed its own bill (PDF format). Introduced by a cabinet minister, it has the government's imprimatur. It was presented to the cabinet in February 2005 and has been approved. The government has announced its intention to introduce it in Parliament in April 2005. It replaces the previous draft (PDF format) of the cabinet bill of June 2004 by modifying some potentially unconstitional clauses.

Although the current Sri Lankan constitution gives preference to Buddhism as the "foremost religion," it stops short of establishing it as the state religion. Believing that this designation does not go far enough in reflecting the important role Buddhism has had in the island's history and concerned by the possibility that other religions may attract converts away from Buddhism, the JHU has sought to make Buddhism the state religion by proposing an amendment to the constitution (PDF format). Though the proposed amendment purports to allow for the continued free exercise of any religion, it stipulates that non-Buddhists must practice their religions "in peace and harmony" with Buddhism. Currently, 70% of Sri Lankans practice Buddhism, while 15% practice Hinduism, 8% Christianity, and 7% Islam.

The International Religious Freedom Act was passed by the United States Congress in 1998. The act "authorize[s] United States actions in response to violations of religious freedom in foreign countries." Read our introduction to IRFA.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations in 1948. Article 18 states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

The International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights was adopted by the United Nations in 1966, and entered into force in 1976. Its Article 18 is very similar to that of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching."