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| Saturday, 31 July 2004 |
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Thirteen petitions against Anti-conversion Bill challengers by Wasantha Ramanayake Thirteen petitions including the six by Hela Urumaya monk-MPs were filed by yesterday in the Supreme Court seeking to intervene the petitions challenging the Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion an Anti-conversion Bill. Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka, Ven. Kolonnawe Sumangala, Ven. Aturaliye Rathane, Ven. Ellawala Medhananda, Ven. Udawatte Nanda, Ven. Rajarata Wappe and Prof. Chandra Wickrema Gamage, Dr. Neville Karunathilake, P.S. Herman de Silva and A. Asangaratne Ariyatillake, President of the Centre for Buddhist Action were among the intervenient-petitioners. Intervenient-petitioners stated that non-governmental organisations funded by foreign organisations were engaged in the forcible conversions in the country for decades. They claimed that such conversions violated their rights to the Freedom of Thought and the Religion guaranteed under the Article 10 and 14 of the Constitution, respectively. They stated that the Bill "Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion" was in accordance with the Constitution and the provisions of the International Human Rights Convention to which Sri Lanka was a signatory. The petitioners stated that they were engaged in the campaign to bring legislation against the wrongful and unethical conversions. They argued that if the provisions in the Bill would be held to be inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution, their right to the Freedom of Thought and the Religion would be affected. |
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