- NCEASL report also calls for related regulations to contain clear parameters/informed instructions
The Government should revisit the need and necessity for regulations pertaining to the registration of places of worship, and regulations should also set out clear parameters with informed instructions and should be equally applied and enforced regardless of religious affiliation or the status of the religious centre/place of worship, a report issued this week by the National Christian Evangelical Alliance Sri Lanka (NCEASL) recommended.
Titled ‘The State of Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka: Annual Report last year (2024)’, it issued a number of recommendations including for faith-based organisations, the international community, and the Government to ensure religious freedom in the country.
The report recommended that consultations and discussions on heritage management include experts representing minority communities including in areas where sites or structures associated with minority communities exist, and this is one of the many recommendations directed at the Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Ministry and the Archaeology Department.
The NCEASL’s report recommended that in keeping with the Government’s commitment to maintaining law and order, the Public Security Ministry should ensure that law enforcement officials adjudicate communal disputes in a manner that is impartial and non-discriminatory. This includes the equal and non-discriminatory application of regulations and court orders pertaining to contested heritage sites. These recommendations are based on incidents and developments in 2024 that involve both State and non-State actors.
The report’s findings said that provisions and principles purportedly in furtherance of the freedom of religion or belief have sometimes contributed to the violation of other rights such as the freedom of expression and gender equality.
With regard to the socio-political-and governance-related aspects, the report stated: “Despite reduced State patronage, developments on contested religious sites in the North and the East reveal persisting trends prioritising Buddhist heritage while undermining others. The enforcement of laws and regulations concerning religious groups and places of worship tends to favour the regional majority, often prioritising Buddhist interests in most conflicts and giving preference to the larger community in conflicts involving minorities.” However, Elections in 2024 had reflected a notable decrease in harmful rhetoric targeting religious groups, according to the report.
The NCEASL’s report further explained that certain religious trends and practices among minority ethno-religious groups have provoked hostility and led to intra- and inter-religious tensions. These include reports of zealous advocacy among evangelical/independent churches, the Hindutva influence that allegedly undermines Sri Lanka-Hindu traditions, and ultra-conservatism among segments of the Muslim community. It expressed concerns about mainline religious establishments continuing to uphold views that foster intolerance towards diversity, which the report noted was evident in resistance to reforming outdated laws that marginalise lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, intersex plus individuals.
When it comes to public and media sentiments, the report observed a notable decline in the spread of harmful content online, particularly concerning ethno-religious minorities, since 2021. Although there was no evidence that social media content directly incited violence in 2024, it added that it played a role in aggravating disputes on contested religious sites in the North and the East. The report added that Muslims remain the most targeted religious group on social media.