Although the Constitution of Sri Lanka provides for freedom of religion, the reality is totally different. The government discriminates against Christians through laws and taxation.
In addition, with the growth of Christianity there has been an increase in violent persecution:
"A Christian girl was beaten by her classmates after an anti-Christian meeting held in a mostly Buddhist school."
"On July 3rd, a pastor, his wife and two children awoke when their house was set on fire after weeks of threats from vilagers."
"On July 6th, 2008, five Buddhist monks charged into Calvary Church after false rumors spread about Christians attacking a temple. The gathered mob then destroyed the building, and beat the pastor and five others with clubs and rods before police arrived."
Chrisians have also been targeted by the barbaric Tamil Tigers, a mostly Hindu militant terrorist group.
The Tamil Tigers have perpetrated some of the most horrendous acts of terror. According to reports, it is this terror group that first made use of suicide bomb-belts.
The government of Sri Lanka recieved assistance from the Pakistani military in its fight with the Tamil Tigers. A 2002 article sheds some light on why:
"The political aspirations of the majority Hindu Tamils have not always had approval from Muslim Tamils based in the east."
"Tamil Muslims have nurtured fears that, in a unified north and eastern province - a demand of the Tamil parties - their interests would not be protected." Not to worry, Pakistani military assistance has helped bring about the defeat of the notorious Tigers. And now this report:
Sri Lanka is becoming a hotbed of Islamist activity:
Sri Lanka is emerging as a new hub for trans-national Islamic extremism in South Asia:
"Thirty years of civil war faltering economy and third world politics are playing their part in the emergence of Sri Lanka as a hub of trans-national Islamic extremism."
"Close relationships’ between Sri Lanka and Muslim states such as Pakistan and Iran are two way affairs. All across Welikanda in the east of the island and Puttalam to the west, there are evidences of ‘Jihadi’ training camps where youths from surrounding countries are undergoing arms training."
The article also has a list of "jihad training" camps in Sri Lanka.
Pesecution in Sri Lanka:
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