The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ahmed Shaheed is to visit Sri Lanka tomorrow (15) on a 12 day official tour that will end on Monday (26).
“I will look at how Sri Lanka promotes and protects the rights to freedom of religion or belief. The visit will be an opportunity for me to have an open exchange with the Government to try to gain a better understanding of how it upholds these rights,” Shaheed said.
“I also look forward to learning about the efforts of the Government in developing and maintaining peaceful coexistence among different religious communities.”
Shaheed is to examine the progress made by Sri Lanka in the implementation of recommendations made by former UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Asma Jahangir, who visited Sri Lanka in 2005.
Shaheed will also aim to identify any existing or emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the freedom of religion or belief in Sri Lanka by all and will present recommendations aimed at overcoming such obstacles.
During his Sri Lankan mission, Shaheed is to meet government officials, representatives of religious or belief communities, civil society organisations and the UN and is to also visit areas out of Colombo.
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