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Some local bodies failed to respond effectively to communal attacks-US
While claiming that trend in the Sri Lanka government’s respect for religious freedom did not change significantly during the year, the US said that ‘in certain instances, local authorities failed to respond effectively to communal attacks, including attacks on members of minority religious groups.’
Issuing the ‘International Religious Freedom Report for 2012’ on Monday, the U.S. Department of State said; there were reports of societal abuses and discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice. Sporadic violent attacks on Christian churches by Buddhists and some societal tension due to ongoing allegations of forced or “unethical” conversions (i.e., the use of bribes to persuade people to convert) continued, although the number and scale of attacks were reportedly fewer than in recent years. Intolerance of, and discrimination against, Muslims by some Buddhists increased during the year.”
It also stated that the U.S. embassy officials in Colombo conveyed U.S. government concerns about religious freedom, particularly attacks on churches, to government leaders and urged them to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
“The ambassador and other embassy officials also met regularly with representatives of all religious groups to review a wide range of human rights, ethnic, and religious freedom concerns. During meetings with religious group leaders, senior U.S. officials discussed religious freedom, including reconciliation efforts and harassment of minority groups. The U.S. embassy supported interfaith efforts to promote a peaceful resolution of the underlying causes of conflict, and the embassy undertook a number of projects promoting interfaith dialogue and cooperative engagement,” it said.
The report on Sri Lanka
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