US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1070

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001070 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, DRL/IRF; NSC FOR E. MILLARD. 
PLEASE ALSO PASS TO TOPEC. 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, KIRF, CE, Religious Freedom 
SUBJECT: FOREIGN SECRETARY SAYS NO DRAFT ANTI-CONVERSION 
BILL 
 
REF: COLOMBO 1027 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead.  Reason 1.5 (b, d). 
 
 1.  (C) During the course of a call on another subject on 
June 22, the Ambassador and Foreign Secretary  H.M.G.S. 
Palihakkara discussed recent developments regarding a 
proposed GSL-sponsored anti-conversion bill.  Despite local 
media reports that the Cabinet gave initial approval to a 
draft bill on June 16 and sent it to the Legal Draftsperson 
(in the Attorney General's office) for review and rewrite, 
Palihakkara clarified that the Cabinet had not/not instructed 
the Legal Draftsperson to draft a bill and that no draft bill 
can emerge unless she is told to draft one.  Rather, 
Palihakkara said, the Cabinet had requested that the Legal 
Draftsperson's office provide an opinion on the draft bill. 
He noted that several Cabinet Ministers had expressed 
reservations about the draft bill. 
 
2.  (C) In response to the Ambassador's concern about 
anti-conversion legislation, Palihakkara noted that the GSL 
is aware of national and international concerns about the 
proposed legislation and explained that there is an 
initiative underway to address the issue of unethical 
conversions.  He said that while all groups agree there is a 
problem, they do not agree on the definition of the problem 
or what to do about it.  He noted that these issues are still 
being discussed and that "when agreement is reached, we'll 
leave it at that," as the GSL does not want to create a 
solution bigger than the problem. 
 
3.  (C) The Ambassador noted that if any bill emerged, it 
should be a positive one.  One solution might be a voluntary 
"code of conduct" developed by religious clergy. 
 
4.  (C)  COMMENT:  Palihakkara made it clear that some GSL 
officials are concerned about the conversion issue and the 
prospect of legislation, that they are aware of international 
concerns, and that they are trying to steer the issue in a 
positive direction.  Palihakkara also mentioned the GSL soon 
would be sending information about the issue to its 
embassies, presumably to better respond to international 
interlocutors.  END COMMENT. 
LUNSTEAD