JHU
brings unethical conversions Bill to Parliament
The Jathika Hela Urumaya Parliamentarian the Ven. Omalpe Sobitha
Thera in a private members bill to parliament has proposed stringent
action against those involved in unethical conversions.
The
Bill titled 'Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion' proposes
the imposition of an imprisonment of not exceeding five years and
a fine not exceeding Rs. 150,000 for a person found guilty of using
force, allurement or fraudulent means to convert a person to another
religion.
A
person found guilty of converting a minor, a woman, Samurdhi beneficiaries,
prison inmates, inmates of rehabilitation centres and detention
centres and physically and mentally disabled, employees of an organisation,
members of the armed forces or police, students, inmates of hospitals
and or places of healing and refugee camps and any other category
as may be prescribed by the Minister of the subject by regulations
will have to serve an imprisonment not exceeding seven years and
also be liable to a fine not exceeding Rs. 500,000.
According
to the proposed bill , a person who changes his or her religion
and the one who converts or acts as a facilitator by performing
any ceremony or by taking part in such ceremony directly or indirectly
will have to inform the Divisional Secretary of the respective area
within a period prescribed by the Minister.
Whoever
fails to comply, without sufficient cause, will be punished with
imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or with a fine
not exceeding Rs. 150,000 on conviction. |