Sri Lanka: Extremist Buddhist groups in a

rampage against Religious minorities US

report
[REPORT: International Religious Freedom Report for 2013Sri Lana!
2"#0$#201%
In Sri Lana& t'e Sin'ala (udd'ist group (odu (ala Sena )((S* +ontinued to promote
its anti,-uslim +ampaign& .'i+' .as lined to /iolent a+ti/ities during t'e 0ear1 Lo+al
media and 23Os noted strong linages 4et.een t'e ((S and t'e go/ernment1
5++ording to numerous reports& t'e ((S .as 4e'ind a gro.ing .a/e of anti,-uslim
a+ti/ities +arried out 40 ot'er /iolent (udd'ist nationalist groups1 2ationalist groups
.ere allegedl0 in/ol/ed in a series of atta+s on mos6ues& protests o/er animal
slaug'ter& and a sustained attempt to furt'er marginali7e -uslims 40 outla.ing t'e
'alal s0stem of meat +ertifi+ation1 On 8e+em4er 1& (udd'ist mons reportedl0 led a
mo4 of 200 /illagers t'at destro0ed t'e -et'odist 9'ur+' of :a4arana& lo+ated in
5nuradapura 8istri+t1 T.o 9riminal In/estigation 8i/ision )9I8* poli+e offi+ers arri/ed
at t'e s+ene and ordered t'e +'ur+' to s'ut do.n& sa0ing t'at it 'ad no legal
re+ognition to operate
P'oto: ((S leader 3annasara in /ilonet mood against ;iit' T'ero ) seated*
State1go/
:ere is t'e Sri Lana se+tion of t'e Report
International Religious Freedom Report for 2013Sri Lana
T'e +onstitution and ot'er la.s and poli+ies prote+t religious freedom1 In pra+ti+e&
'o.e/er& lo+al aut'orities failed to respond effe+ti/el0 to +ommunal /iolen+e& in+luding
atta+s on mem4ers of minorit0 religious groups& and perpetrators .ere not 4roug't to
<usti+e1 5ut'orities failed to pre/ent t'e destru+tion of a :indu temple in 8am4ulla and
an atta+ on t'e 3randpass -os6ue in 9olom4o1 2ongo/ernmental organi7ations
)23Os* alleged t'at senior and lo+al go/ernment offi+ials pro/ided assistan+e to or& at
a minimum& ta+it support for t'e a+tions of so+ietal groups targeting religious
minorities1
T'ere .ere reports of so+ietal a4uses and dis+rimination 4ased on religious affiliation&
4elief& or pra+ti+e1 T'ere .as an o/erall de+rease in so+ietal respe+t for religious
freedom& as (udd'ist nationalist groups led +ampaigns targeting -uslims and
9'ristians1 (udd'ist groups atta+ed +'ur+'es and mos6ues1
=1S1 em4ass0 offi+ials urged go/ernment leaders to arrest and prose+ute t'e
perpetrators of atta+s on +'ur+'es& mos6ues& and ot'er pla+es of .ors'ip1 T'e
5m4assador and ot'er em4ass0 offi+ials met regularl0 .it' representati/es of all
ma<or religious denominations to dis+uss post,+onfli+t re+on+iliation efforts and
+ontinuing 'arassment of minorit0 religious groups1 T'e =1S1 em4ass0 initiated
pro<e+ts promoting interfait' dialogue and +ooperati/e engagement to support
re+on+iliation efforts1
Se+tion I1 Religious 8emograp'0S'are T'e =1S1 go/ernment estimates t'e total
population at 211$ million )>ul0 2013 estimate*1 5ppro?imatel0 $0 per+ent is (udd'ist&
1@ per+ent :indu& A per+ent 9'ristian& and $ per+ent -uslim1 9'ristians tend to 4e
+on+entrated in t'e .est and -uslims in t'e eastB t'e nort' is predominantl0 :indu1
-ost mem4ers of t'e ma<orit0 Sin'alese +ommunit0 are T'era/ada (udd'ist1 T'e
ma<orit0 of Tamils& t'e largest et'ni+ minorit0& are :indu1 T'e -uslim +ommunit0 is
+omprised of 4ot' et'ni+ Sin'alese and et'ni+ Tamils1 -ost -uslims are SunniB t'ere
is a small S'ia minorit0& in+luding mem4ers of t'e (o'ra +ommunit01 5lmost A0
per+ent of 9'ristians are Roman 9at'oli+B ot'er 9'ristian denominations in+lude
5ngli+ans& Se/ent',da0 5d/entists& >e'o/a'Cs Ditnesses& -et'odists& 5ssem4l0 of
3od& (aptists& Pente+ostals& t'e 8ut+' Reformed 9'ur+'& and T'e 9'ur+' of >esus
9'rist of Latter,da0 Saints )-ormons*1 E/angeli+al 9'ristian groups 'a/e gro.n in
re+ent 0ears& alt'oug' mem4ers'ip still remains relati/el0 lo.1
Se+tion II1 Status of 3o/ernment Respe+t for Religious FreedomS'are Legal#Poli+0
Frame.orT'e +onstitution and ot'er la.s and poli+ies generall0 prote+t religious
freedom1 5++ording to t'e +onstitution& e/er0 person is Eentitled to freedom of t'oug't&
+ons+ien+e& and religion& in+luding t'e freedom to 'a/e or to adopt a religion or 4elief
of 'is +'oi+e1F T'e +onstitution gi/es a +iti7en t'e rig't to manifest 'is or 'er religion or
4elief in .ors'ip& o4ser/an+e& pra+ti+e& or tea+'ing in 4ot' pu4li+ and in pri/ate1 It
a++ords (udd'ism t'e Eforemost pla+eF )priorit0 +onsideration* and +ommits t'e
go/ernment to prote+ting it& 4ut does not re+ogni7e it as t'e state religion1
T'e -inistr0 of (udd'a Sasana )do+trine and pra+ti+e* and Religious 5ffairs 'as four
departments .oring spe+ifi+all0 .it' (udd'ist& :indu& -uslim& and 9'ristian groups1
(0 la. ea+' department is mandated to formulate and implement programs to
in+ul+ate religious /alues and promote a E/irtuous so+iet01F
Religious groups are not re6uired to register .it' t'e go/ernment& nor is t'ere a
re6uirement to register pla+es of .ors'ip1 In+orporation 40 a+t of parliament is t'e
'ig'est form of legal /alidit0& 4ut t'at option is una/aila4le in pra+ti+e for 9'ristian
+'ur+'es1 9'ristian +'ur+'es are +ompelled to see ot'er forms of registration to
esta4lis' a legal status& su+' as esta4lis'ing a trust& so+iet0& 23O& or +ompan0 under
t'e 9ompanies 5+t1 5n0 of t'ese forms of registration allo.s a +'ur+' to engage in
finan+ial transa+tions& operate a 4an a++ount& and 'old propert01
3o/ernment ministries +an also issue +ir+ulars& .'i+' are dire+ti/es t'at do not 'a/e
t'e for+e of la.1
5n instru+tion issued during t'e 0ear 40 t'e -inistr0 of (udd'a Sasana and Religious
5ffairs to t'e Registrar of 9ompanies mandates t'at t'e ministr0 must appro/e all
appli+ations su4mitted 40 +'ur+'es seeing registration1 Sin+e Septem4er lo+al
aut'orities 'a/e 4een +iting a 200A +ir+ular issued 40 t'e ministr0 on registration of
ne. +'ur+'es to +lose do.n +'ur+'es& in+luding t'ose t'at predate t'e +ir+ular& e/en
t'oug' t'e +ir+ular does not 'a/e t'e for+e of la. and its apparent intent is to regulate
t'e +onstru+tion of ne. pla+es of religious .ors'ip1
-atters related to famil0 la.& in+luding di/or+e& +'ild +ustod0& and in'eritan+e& are
ad<udi+ated a++ording to t'e +ustomar0 la. of t'e appli+a4le et'ni+ or religious group1
In order to solemni7e marriages& religious groups must register .it' t'e -inistr0 of
(udd'a Sasana and Religious 5ffairs1
Religion is a mandator0 su4<e+t in t'e pu4li+ s+'ool +urri+ulum1 Parents ma0 +'oose
for t'eir +'ildren to stud0 (udd'ism& Islam& :induism& or 9'ristianit01 Students +annot
opt out of religious instru+tion1 Students 4elonging to ot'er religious groups ma0
pursue religious instru+tion outside t'e pu4li+ s+'ool s0stem1 5ll s+'ools follo. t'e
-inistr0 of Edu+ation +urri+ulum on t'e su4<e+t& .'i+' is +ompulsor0 for t'e 3eneral
9ertifi+ate Edu+ation Ordinar0,Le/el )39E O,Le/el* e?ams1 5++ording to t'e
8epartment of E?aminations .e4site& t'ose taing t'e e?am in t'e Tamil language are
tested in :induism and t'ose taing it in t'e Sin'ala language are tested in (udd'ism&
4ut students are not tested in 4ot'1 International s+'ools follo.ing t'e London
Ordinar0,Le/el s0lla4us are go/erned 40 t'e (oard of In/estment and ma0 opt not to
tea+' religious studies in s+'ools& as students +an pass .it'out religion1
3o/ernment Pra+ti+es5lt'oug' t'e go/ernment offi+iall0 endorsed religious freedom&
in pra+ti+e t'ere .ere pro4lems in spe+ifi+ areas1 23Os a++used aut'orities of
relu+tan+e to in/estigate or prose+ute t'ose responsi4le for atta+s on +'ur+'es&
:indu o/ils )temples*& and mos6ues and +'ara+teri7ed t'is as indi+ati/e of a
deepening E+ulture of impunit0F t'at prote+ted alleged (udd'ist perpetrators1
On O+to4er 2"& t'e =r4an 8e/elopment 5ut'orit0& 'eeding t'e +alls of area (udd'ists
in 8am4ulla& 4ulldo7ed t'e :indu 8am4ulla (ad'raaali 5mman Go/il near t'e
separate (udd'ist temple to mae .a0 for a pond in t'e 8am4ulla (udd'ist Esa+red
7one1F 5++ording to /arious sour+es& more t'an %0 Tamil :indu families .'o 'ad paid
rent to Sin'alese lando.ners in t'e area surrounding t'e o/il for o/er t'ree
generations .ere e/i+ted .it' t'e promise of alternati/e li/ing arrangements& 4ut lo+al
aut'orities did not fulfill t'e promise1
(udd'ists in 8am4ulla also demanded t'at a near40 mos6ue 4e remo/ed 4e+ause it
.as also lo+ated in t'e Esa+red 7one1F 8isagreements a4out t'e presen+e of t'e
mos6ue led to +onfrontations 4et.een (udd'ists and -uslims& in+luding a+ts of
/andalism against t'e mos6ue1 T'e mos6ue 'ad 4een slated for destru+tion in 2012 to
e?pand t'e ma<or nort',sout' 5" 'ig'.a0& 4ut area -uslims 'eld t'e deeds to t'eir
properties and gained +on+essions to di/ert t'e 'ig'.a01
T'e Sin'ala (udd'ist group (odu (ala Sena )((S& EFor+es of (udd'ist Po.erF*
+ontinued to promote /ie.s religious and et'ni+ minorities +onsidered 'ostile1 Lo+al
media and 23Os noted strong linages 4et.een t'e ((S and t'e go/ernment&
parti+ularl0 Se+retar0 of 8efense )and 4rot'er of t'e president* 3ota4a0a Ra<apasa&
.'o appeared prominentl0 at pu4li+ ((S e/ents during t'e 0ear1 In response to
pressure from t'is group& muni+ipal +oun+ils 4egan passing regulations pro'i4iting t'e
slaug'ter of +o.s& a ((S demand& in t'eir areas1
5t times& lo+al poli+e and go/ernment offi+ials appeared to 4e a+ting in +on+ert .it'
(udd'ist nationalist organi7ations1 E/angeli+al 9'ristian +'ur+'es& espe+iall0 in t'e
sout'& reported in+reased pressure and 'arassment 40 lo+al go/ernment 4odies to
suspend .ors'ip a+ti/ities or +lose do.n if t'e0 .ere not registered .it' t'e
go/ernment& despite no legal re6uirement to do so1 T'e 2ational 9'ristian E/angeli+al
5llian+e of Sri Lana )29E5SL* stated t'at Edo7ensF of +'ur+'es from all parts of t'e
+ountr0 'ad 4een 6uestioned a4out t'eir legalit0 40 lo+al go/ernment offi+ials and
poli+e1
9'ur+' leaders& predominatel0 from unregistered e/angeli+al +'ur+'es& reported t'at
poli+e used a go/ernment +ir+ular from 2011 in an attempt to +oer+e unregistered
+'ur+'es to register& e/en t'oug' t'e +ir+ular .as su4se6uentl0 re/oed1 T'e +ir+ular
'ad re6uired all pla+es of .ors'ip to register& 4ut .as repla+ed 40 a ne. +ir+ular t'at
onl0 applied to ne. pla+es of .ors'ip& .'i+' are re6uired to register after pro+uring a
Eno o4<e+tionsF letter from lo+al (udd'ist offi+ials1 In some su+' instan+es& poli+e
.arned +'ur+' leaders t'at if t'eir pla+es of .ors'ip remained open& se+urit0 for+es
.ould 4e una4le to prote+t t'em from /andalism or atta+s1
On 8e+em4er 1& t'e opening da0 of ser/i+es at t'e -et'odist 9'ur+' of :a4arana
in5nuradapura 8istri+t& (udd'ist mons reportedl0 led a mo4 of 200 /illagers t'at
destro0ed t'e +'ur+'1 T.o poli+e 9riminal In/estigation 8i/ision )9I8* offi+ers arri/ed
at t'e s+ene and ordered t'e +'ur+' to s'ut do.n 4e+ause it 'ad no legal re+ognition
to operate& +iting a +ir+ular issued 40 t'e -inistr0 of (udd'a Sasana and Religious
5ffairs1 T'e ne?t da0& t'e 9I8 offi+ers instru+ted t'e pastor of near40 (elie/ers 9'ur+'
to +lose do.n for t'e same reason& e/en t'oug' t'e +'ur+' 'ad 4een fun+tioning in
t'e /illage for t'e past se/en 0ears and .as legall0 in+orporated1
T'e pastor of t'e 9'ur+' of 3ra+e in Daraapola& Gegalle 8istri+t re+ei/ed a letter
from t'e di/isional se+retariat dated 2o/em4er 11& instru+ting 'im to stop all religious
.ors'ip a+ti/ities1 T'e letter referen+ed an 5ugust 200" +ir+ular1 T'e same pastor .as
/iolentl0 atta+ed in 8e+em4er 20121 5 +ase against t'e pastor for allegedl0 4reaing
t'e pea+e remained unresol/ed at 0earCs end1
On Septem4er A& poli+e pro'i4ited Praise Pra0er Lana 9'ur+'& .'i+' 'ad 4een
operating in a 9olom4o su4ur4 for 2% 0ears& from 'olding ser/i+es .it'out proper
registration1 Poli+e informed +'ur+' offi+ials t'at failing to register +ould open t'e
+'ur+' to atta+s and distur4 t'e pea+e1 T'e +'ur+' .as +ompelled to suspend
ser/i+es& 4ut resumed t'em t.o .ees later after sending t'e re6uested registration
appli+ation do+uments1 T'e +'ur+' 'ad 0et to re+ei/e a response from t'e
go/ernment and at t'e end of t'e 0ear ser/i+es .ere +ontinuing1 9'ur+' offi+ials said
t'e +'ur+' 'ad 4een registered for 0ears .it' t'e di/isional se+retar0 and& under t'e
former go/ernment& .it' t'e 9'ristian ministr0 4efore it .as su4sumed 40 t'e -inistr0
of (udd'a Sasana and Religious 5ffairs under t'e +urrent go/ernment1
On 5ugust 1& .'ile responding to a protest o/er +ontaminated .ater& se+urit0 for+es in
Deli.eri0a& 3ampa'a 8istri+t& entered a 9at'oli+ +'ur+' and 4eat protesters .'o 'ad
entered t'e +'ur+' seeing s'elter1 ;ideo taen after t'e in+ident s'o.ed 4ullet 'oles
in t'e +'ur+' .alls1
In -a0 t'e di/isional se+retar0 of :am4antota 8istri+t issued an ultimatum to
e/angeli+al 9'ristian +'ur+'es to s'o. t'eir registration do+uments or fa+e +losure1
5++ording to 29E5SL offi+ials& a senior mem4er of t'e (udd'ist +lerg0 from t'e
distri+t pu4li+l0 stated t'at (udd'ist mons 'ad alread0 +losed do.n 1$ +'ur+'es1 T'e
29E5SL stated t'ese +losures .ere often +arried out .it' t'e ta+it support and e/en
+ooperation of lo+al aut'orities1
On Fe4ruar0 1$& t.o poli+e offi+ers& t'e /illage offi+er& and fi/e offi+ers of t'e di/isional
se+retariat disrupted a pra0er meeting in progress at t'e 9'ristian Pra0er 9entre in
Ingiri0a& Galut'ara 8istri+t1 Poli+e told t'e 1@,20 9'ristians gat'ered for pra0er t'eir
meeting .as illegal& stating t'e0 did not 'a/e prior appro/al to 'old pra0er meetings
t'ere1 T'e di/isional se+retar0 said a gat'ering for .ors'ip of more t'an 10 persons
.ould 4e +onsidered a E+'ur+'F .'i+' .ould re6uire prior appro/al to 'old su+'
gat'erings1 5++ording to lo+al 'uman rig'ts groups& t'ere .as no legal 4asis for su+'
a +laim1
Some 9'ristian groups& in parti+ular denominations .it' a more re+ent presen+e in t'e
+ountr0& reported an in+rease in +ompli+ations o4taining lo+al permission to +onstru+t
+'ur+' 4uildings1 E/angeli+al groups reported in+reasing diffi+ult0 in registering ne.
+'ur+'es or reregistering as +orporations1 Se/eral smaller +ongregations .ere denied
permission to register .it' t'e -inistr0 of (udd'a Sasana and Religious 5ffairs as
+'ur+'es& reportedl0 4e+ause t'e0 .ere not mem4ers of t'e 2ational 9'ristian
9oun+il& an um4rella organi7ation representing EtraditionalF Protestant +'ur+'es1
Reportedl0 lo+al aut'orities sometimes did not .ant t'ese groups operating in t'eir
distri+ts due to allegations of Eunet'i+alF +on/ersions and to pressure 40 lo+al (udd'ist
groups1
Some e/angeli+al 9'ristian groups reported in+idents of go/ernmental dis+rimination
in t'e pro/ision of ser/i+es1 Some go/ernment s+'ools re6uired minorit0 9'ristian
students to attend (udd'ist religion +lasses 4e+ause t'ere .ere no tea+'ers a/aila4le
to tea+' +lasses on 9'ristianit01 T'ere .ere also reports of go/ernment s+'ools
refusing to enroll 9'ristians 4e+ause of t'eir religion1
T'e go/ernment +ontinued to limit t'e issuan+e of temporar0 .or permits for foreign
religious .orers and +lerg01 Dor permits for foreign +lerg0 .ere issued for one 0ear
4ut +ould 4e e?tended1
Follo.ing t'e +on+lusion of a 2$,0ear +onfli+t 4et.een t'e (udd'ist,ma<orit0
go/ernment and t'e Li4eration Tigers of Tamil Eelam )LTTE*& go/ernment troops
+ontinued to 4uild (udd'ist s'rines in Tamil areas of t'e nort'& .'i+' are 'ome to
primaril0 :indu 4ut also 9'ristian and -uslim populations1 Some Tamil groups alleged
t'is demonstrated go/ernment,sponsored Sin'alese +oloni7ation of former LTTE,'eld
areas1 T'e num4er of (udd'ist s'rines and religious sites in t'e nort'ern distri+ts of
>affna and Gilino+'+'i also in+reased1
3o/ernment Ina+tion:uman rig'ts organi7ations and mem4ers of religious minorit0
groups e?pressed +on+ern t'at aut'orities ta+itl0 +ondoned 'arassment and /iolen+e&
parti+ularl0 perpetrated 40 (udd'ist nationalist groups& aimed at religious minorities1 In
multiple instan+es during t'e 0ear& poli+e failed to respond or .ere relu+tant to arrest
or pursue +riminal +ases against indi/iduals instigating atta+s on minorit0 religious
sites1
T'e go/ernment .as 'esitant to arrest and prose+ute (udd'ist mons in/ol/ed in
numerous atta+s against -uslims and 9'ristians1 (udd'ist mons generall0 operated
under t'e prote+tion of t'e go/ernment1 Some mons& parti+ularl0 outside 9olom4o&
operated .it' impunit0 in tr0ing to eliminate 9'ristian and -uslim pla+es of .ors'ip1
On 5ugust 10& @0,H0 (udd'ist mons and t'eir supporters atta+ed t'e ne.
3randpass -os6ue in 9olom4o during e/ening pra0ers on t'e da0 after Eid al,Fitr1
-ons 'ad pre/iousl0 protested against t'e relo+ation of t'e mos6ue& .'i+' t'e
go/ernment 'ad appro/ed1 Se/eral people .ere 'ospitali7ed1 Poli+e .ere present
during t'e atta+ 4ut failed to inter/ene to stop t'e /iolen+e and t'e0 made no arrests1
T'e =r4an 8e/elopment 5ut'orit0 su4se6uentl0 de+ided to a4andon plans to
demolis' t'e old mos6ue and for+ed t'e -uslims to return t'ere1 T'ere .ere se/eral
similar mos6ue atta+s during t'e 0ear& none of .'i+' resulted in prose+utions1
On -ar+' 2%& (udd'ist mons led a mo4 of appro?imatel0 100 people .'o assaulted
se/eral mem4ers of t'e +ongregation in t'e 5ssem4lies of 3od +'ur+' in Gotta.a& a
su4ur4 of 9olom4o1 T'e poli+e ordered t'e pastor to stop t'e ser/i+es 4ut did not
arrest an0 of t'e perpetrators1
On -ar+' 1A& a mo4 reportedl0 led 40 (udd'ist mons atta+ed t'e .ife& t.o +'ildren&
and residen+e of t'e pastor of t'e >ee/ana 5loa0a +'ur+' in Deeraeti0a&
:am4ant'ota 8istri+t& +ausing serious in<ur0 to t'e pastorCs .ife and damage to t'e
propert01 T'e pastor .as in 9olom4o at t'e time attending t'e Supreme 9ourt 'earing
on a petition 'e filed follo.ing an earlier atta+ on t'e +'ur+' in 8e+em4er 20121
8uring t'e t'ree,'our atta+& s'attered glass stru+ t'e pastorCs .ife in t'e e0e&
re6uiring surger01 Poli+e .ere present during t'e atta+& in .'i+' t'e pastorCs 'ome
.as /andali7ed and some (i4les 4urned& 4ut too no a+tion1 Follo.ing t'e atta+&
poli+e reportedl0 instru+ted t'e pastorCs famil0 to relo+ate outside t'e distri+t for t'eir
o.n safet01 T'e ne?t da0 poli+e made se/eral arrests in +onne+tion .it' t'e atta+& 4ut
t'e perpetrators .ere later released from +ustod0 after a protesting mo4 led 40
(udd'ist mons 'urled stones at t'e poli+e station and politi+ians inter/ened to
demand t'eir release1
Se+tion III1 Status of So+ietal Respe+t for Religious FreedomS'are T'ere .ere reports
of so+ietal a4uses and dis+rimination 4ased on religious affiliation& 4elief& or pra+ti+e1
So+ietal dis+rimination and /iolen+e against religious minorities in+reased maredl01
5lt'oug' mem4ers of different religious groups .ere generall0 tolerant of ea+' ot'erCs
religious 4eliefs& t'ere .as e/iden+e of gro.ing distrust and fear& parti+ularl0 on t'e
part of religious minorities1 5tta+s on +'ur+'es and mos6ues in+reased1
5++ording to numerous reports& t'e ((S .as 4e'ind a gro.ing .a/e of anti,-uslim
a+ti/ities +arried out 40 ot'er /iolent (udd'ist nationalist groups& allegedl0
+oordinating .it' t'e Ra/ana (ala0a& an e?tremist organi7ation +omprised of
mem4ers of t'e (udd'ist +lerg0 and lait01 (ot' groups .ere allegedl0 in/ol/ed in a
series of atta+s on mos6ues& protests o/er animal slaug'ter& and a sustained attempt
to furt'er marginali7e -uslims 40 outla.ing t'e 'alal s0stem of meat +ertifi+ation1 T'e
((S staged large Eanti,'alalF rallies in Fe4ruar0& .'i+' in+luded intimidation and
'arassment of -uslims1 T'e ((S suspended its anti,'alal +ampaign in late -ar+'
after t'e go/ernment agreed to 4an t'e domesti+ sale of produ+ts la4eled .it' a 'alal
+ertifi+ation )an e?+eption .as made for produ+ts alread0 la4eled*1 T'e ((S
re+ommen+ed its +ampaign on O+to4er 22 for a 4rief period& +laiming t'e go/ernment
'ad reneged on its promise1
T'e ((S denied in/ol/ement in atta+s on mos6ues and -uslim 4usinesses& in+luding
.idel0 reported& (udd'ist mon,led atta+s on t'e 3randpass -os6ue and t'e
-uslim,o.ned Fas'ion (ug +'ain of +lot'ing stores& e/en t'oug' mons asso+iated
.it' t'e ((S .ere often present during t'e atta+s1 T'ere .ere also reports of atta+s
on -uslim food +arts in Gand01
9'ristian groups reported at least H0 /iolent atta+s led 40 (udd'ist mons against
9'ristians or +'ur+'es during t'e 0ear1 9'ristians& parti+ularl0 t'ose from e/angeli+al
denominations& sometimes en+ountered 'arassment and p'0si+al atta+s on propert0
and pla+es of .ors'ip 40 lo+al (udd'ists .'o .ere opposed to +on/ersion and
4elie/ed 9'ristian groups t'reatened t'em1 T'e num4er and se/erit0 of t'e atta+s
reportedl0 in+reased modestl01 T'e 29E5SL reported atta+s on 9'ristian +'ur+'es&
organi7ations& religious leaders& and +ongregantsB man0 of t'e atta+s .ere reported
to t'e poli+e1 Ot'er sour+es +onfirmed some of t'ese atta+s1
In >une a group of >e'o/a'Cs Ditnesses .as engaged in e/angeli+al outrea+' t'roug'
t'e distri4ution of a mont'l0 maga7ine in -ulleri0a.a1 -em4ers of Ra/ana (ala0a
surrounded t'e group and ordered t'em to stop distri4uting t'e maga7ine1 T'e
Ra/ana (ala0a leader reported t'is in+ident to poli+e and .arned t'e >e'o/a'Cs
Ditnesses to stop /isiting (udd'ist residen+es1
5lso in >une a group atta+ed t'e 9at'oli+ 9'ur+' of St1 Fran+is Ia/ier in 5ngulana1
T'e /andals destro0ed a statue of t'e ;irgin -ar0 and t'en demolis'ed t'e
ta4erna+le1 In t'e same mont'& a mo4 led 40 a (udd'ist mon assaulted t'e pastor of
t'e 2e. Life 9'ur+' in :an.ella& 9olom4o 8istri+t& along .it' 'is sons and mem4ers
of t'e +ongregation1 T'e mon .as not detained1
On Septem4er 2& .'en a group of unidentified indi/iduals t're. plasti+ 4ags filled .it'
erosene at t'e 'ome of t'e pastor of t'e 5ssem4lies of 3od 9'ur+' in
5gunuolapalassa& :am4ant'ota 8istri+t1 T'e atta+ers fled .'en t'e pastor a.oe
and +ame out of t'e 'ouse1 Poli+e found e/iden+e of lit mat+'es outside t'e premises1
T'e pastor filed a poli+e +omplaint& 4ut t'ere 'ad 4een no progress reported on t'e
in/estigation 40 t'e end of t'e 0ear1
On 8e+em4er 21& unidentified assailants t're. t.o gasoline 4om4s at t'e Samaritan
9'ur+' premises o++upied 40 t'e pastor and 'is famil0 in 5'angama& 3alle 8istri+t1
On 8e+em4er 10& an unno.n gunman s'ot at t'e 'ome of a pastor in Destern
Pro/in+e1 2o in<uries .ere reported in eit'er +ase1 T'e poli+e stated t'e0 .ere
in/estigating 4ut 'ad made no arrests 40 0earCs end1
Se/eral +'ur+'es .ere atta+ed on 9'ristmas E/e1 (udd'ist mons .ere among a
mo4 of o/er 300 /illagers .'o surrounded t'e pastor of t'e 5ssem4lies of 3od 9'ur+'
in 5ngunuolapalassa& :am4ant'ota 8istri+t& demanding 'e stop all .ors'ip a+ti/ities
planned for 9'ristmas1 T'e /illagers alleged t'at a (udd'ist mon 'ad filed a poli+e
+omplaint against t'e pastorCs religious a+ti/ities1 T'e pastor +ited 'is rig't to 'old
ser/i+es and .as gi/en poli+e prote+tion1 5t 11:30 p1m1 t'e same nig't& a group of
unidentified assailants t're. stones at t'e Lig't :ouse 9'ur+' in :iadu.a& 3alle
8istri+t& s'attering .indo.s and +ausing minor damage1 T'e pastors lodged poli+e
+omplaints& 4ut no progress .as reported on t'e in/estigation 40 0earCs end1
On 8e+em4er 2$& appro?imatel0 200 protesters attempted to stop +onstru+tion of a
ne. -et'odist +'ur+' in (uttala& -onaragala 8istri+t1 5lt'oug' poli+e and t'e
di/isional se+retariat inter/ened& t'e situation remained tense and +onstru+tion .as
temporaril0 suspended1
5llegations of Eunet'i+alF +on/ersions& impl0ing e+onomi+ indu+ements& 40 e/angeli+al
missionaries and +'ur+'es +ontinued to surfa+e during t'e 0ear1 Su+' +laims .ere
made not onl0 40 'ard,line (udd'ists& 4ut .ere also +ommon among moderate
(udd'ist& :indu& and esta4lis'ed 9'ristian +'ur+' leaders1 T'e ((S& for e?ample&
alleged t'at E=1S1,4asedF e/angeli+al 9'ristian groups offered e+onomi+ indu+ements
in e?+'ange for +on/ersion1
On -a0 2%& a (udd'ist mon self,immolated and later died in Gand0& reportedl0 to
protest t'e -uslim 'alal met'od of slaug'tering +attle and Eunet'i+alF +on/ersions 40
9'ristians1
23Os reported se/eral in+idents of dis+rimination against -uslims1 5 sur/e0 40 t'e
5sia Foundation& an international 23O .oring in t'e +ountr0& found t'at religious
tension +ontinued to 4e a pro4lem among -uslim& :indu& 9'ristian& and (udd'ist
groups1 Si?t0,four per+ent of t'ose sur/e0ed 4elie/ed t'at attempts to +on/ert people
from one religion to anot'er s'ould not 4e tolerated& a per+eption t'at .as relati/el0
+onsistent a+ross all religious groups1 T'e sur/e0 also found t'at most mem4ers of
religious minorities +onsidered t'emsel/es free to e?press religious opinions in t'eir
lo+al areasB 'o.e/er& 'ig'er per+entages of -uslims and :indus did not feel free to
e?press religious opinions in pu4li+1
Se+tion I;1 =1S1 3o/ernment Poli+0S'are =1S1 em4ass0 offi+ials regularl0 +on/e0ed
+on+erns a4out religious freedom& parti+ularl0 atta+s on +'ur+'es and mos6ues& to
go/ernment leaders at t'e most senior le/els and urged t'em to arrest and prose+ute
t'e perpetrators1 T'e 5m4assador and ot'er em4ass0 offi+ials also met fre6uentl0 .it'
representati/es from a 4road spe+trum of religious groups to dis+uss a .ide range of
religious freedom +on+erns1 T'e em4ass0 en+ouraged interfait' efforts 40 religious
leaders to promote re+on+iliation1 Follo.ing t'e 3randpass -os6ue atta+& t'e =1S1
em4ass0 issued a statement +alling for prose+ution of t'e perpetrators& t'e prote+tion
of t'e rig't of all Sri Lanans to pra+ti+e t'e religion of t'eir +'oi+e& and an end to
religiousl0,4ased /iolen+e1
T'e em4ass0 also undertoo se/eral pro<e+ts to promote interfait' dialogue and
+ooperati/e engagement& in+luding interfait' panel dis+ussions and .ors'ops1 T'ese
e/ents in/ol/ed e0 regional religious leaders and rea+'ed se/eral t'ousand
parti+ipants1 T'e 5m4assador met .it' religious leaders to dis+uss efforts for furt'er
de/elopment in t'e .ar,affe+ted nort' and east1 T'e 5m4assador and ot'er em4ass0
offi+ials also regularl0 parti+ipated in religious +onferen+es& +eremonies& and ot'er
e/ents promoting religious freedom around t'e +ountr01
State1go/