News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Sri-Lanka-anti-muslim-violence-credit-March-2018-main_article_image.jpg
AP Photo/Pradeep Pathiran
World News

Sri Lanka risks backsliding on religious freedoms, UK Christian peer warns

House of Lords member and Christian, Baroness Berridge, spoke as the deadly unrest was condemned by the United Nations (UN), which called upon Colombo to ensure the perpetrators face justice.

She told Premier: "It is really hard to see this happen in Sri Lanka because since 2015... Sri Lanka has been on the right trajectory; it's been much, much better."

At least two people have been killed in unrest affecting the central district of Kandy in the last week - with dozens of homes, mosques, and businesses being set on fire.

Ending a three-day visit to the country on Sunday, the UN's Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, criticised "the breakdown in law and order and the attacks against Muslims and their property", in a statement.

Highlighting the urgency of ensuring peaceful co-existence between those of different faiths in Sri Lanka, Baroness Berridge said: "The authorities have got to get on top of these issues.

AP Photo/Rukmal Gamage

"There's got to be community work around inter-faith issues, to get people together so that there is an interweaving of communities."

Violence broke out in Kandy after the death of a Buddhist man who was beaten by a group of Muslim men in a row over a traffic accident.

Sir Lanka is a Buddhist-majority nation which is also home to significant Hindu, Muslim and Christian populations.

Click here to listen to Premier's Tola Mbakwe speaking with Baroness Berridge:

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate