To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Sri Lankan government on the provisions of the Prohibition of Forcible Conversions Bill restricting religious conversions. (254830)

[holding answer 9 February 2009]: We have expressed our concern over religious freedoms to the Sri Lankan Minister of Human Rights and Disaster Management through our high commission in Colombo.

We will continue to raise our concerns over the Prohibition of Forcible Conversions Bill and any other legislation that reduces freedoms protected by international human rights law with the Sri Lankan Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had recent discussions with representatives of the Sri Lankan government on freedom of religious expression in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. (258467)

Our high commission in Colombo recently expressed our concerns over religious freedoms to the Sri Lankan Minister of Human Rights and Disaster Management.

In addition, in a statement on 23 February 2009, the EU expressed its concern about a draft Bill relating to religious freedoms, which is currently awaiting further discussion in the Sri Lankan Parliament. We will continue to raise our concerns with the Sri Lankan Government about any legislation that reduces freedoms protected by international human rights law.