JHU urge govt to arrest faith healing pastors

The Jathika Hela Urumaya yesterday called on the Government to take steps to arrest the pastors who are engaged in faith healing activities saying their operations are a threat to ‘religious harmony’ in the country.

Speaking in Parliament JHU Parliamentary Group Leader Athuraliye Rathana Thera also asked the Government to expedite the introduction of the ‘Anti-conversion’ Bill proposed by the JHU and fix an early date for its debate.

The JHU MP said he was prompted to make the statement after the death of two women at a healing service held at the Vihara Maha Devi Park recently. Those who conduct these services are members of secret sects and not members of the main stream Christian church.

“These activities are harmful to inter religious relations,” he said. He also tabled a compact disc containing visuals recorded at the healing service, where the two women died.