The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has, in its this year’s (2025) annual report,
recommended that the US State Department lists Sri Lanka on a ‘Special Watch List’ based on religious freedom-related conditions recorded last year (in 2024), which include allegedly engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom (pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act).
The report, issued last week, further recommended to the US Congress to raise ongoing religious freedom issues through the Congressional Caucus on Ethnic and Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka, foreign affairs committee hearings, resolutions, letters, and congressional delegations to Sri Lanka. Another recommendation was to prioritise meetings with the Department of Archaeology and the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs during congressional delegations, and specifically raise concerns over their expropriation of shared or disputed religious sites.
“Incorporate religious freedom concerns into the US-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue, including the need to repeal or significantly reform the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act as amended to require a higher threshold of evidence for charges, a definition of ‘terrorism’ that complies with international standards, and safeguards against abuses of religious freedom,” it was further recommended to the US Government.
“In Sri Lanka, Hindu and Buddhist nationalist groups targeted Muslims throughout the year with threats, intimidation, and coercion,” the report claimed.
Among the other countries that were recommended to be included in a Special Watch List along with Sri Lanka were Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Syria, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.
(Sumudu Chamara – The Morning)