Religious minorities in Sri Lanka continue to face “systematic discrimination” at the hands of officials of the Sri Lankan government and majority Buddhists, says a report by the US State Department. 

The "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom", released this week, has mentioned a number of incidents where the country’s religious minorities--mainly Muslims, Hindus, and Christians-- had faced discrimination often with the apparent support of local government officials.

“Religious minorities faced restrictions in the manifestation of their religion or belief, such as proselytization, conversion, and building of places of worship, in addition to numerous incidents of violent attacks,” reads the report.

Furthermore, it highlighted the forced burial policy-which the Sri Lanka government continued for almost eight months- for Covid-19 dead people. The Sri Lankan Supreme Court even failed to hear the petitions challenging the government policy of the forced burial, the report says, highlighting systematic failure to address the issue. 

“Religious minorities reported government officials and police often sided with Buddhists and did not prevent harassment of religious minorities and their places of worship,” the report highlighted. 

The Sri Lankan government also failed to curb hate speeches, and dedicated social media campaigns, fueling anger against minorities in the country. Buddhist monks, the report alleged, often interrupted Church activities in the country, and mentioned a case where a pastor was beaten by a mob.

The US embassy in Colombo repeatedly urged the government to protect and defend the country’s religious minorities. 

(SAM)