Return to top . Apparently, there is correlation between religious affiliations and ethnicity in Sri Lanka. There are observed discrimination against minority religions in taxation, employment and education. Tradition claims that the apostle Thomas first evangelised the island of Sri Lanka. In 1505 the Portuguese introduced Roman Catholism, in the 1600s the Dutch brought Reform Theology and in the 1800s the British introduced the Anglican tradition.
Missionary work is restricted and visas difficult to obtain.
Buddhist clerics wanted to prevent the further advancement of Christianity in Sri Lanka, while attention was directed to winning back those who had professed the Christian faith. In addition the powerful Sinhalese Buddhist lobby is demanding privileges for themselves at the expense of the Christian minority. Over the years there has also been a clamor by high-ranking Buddhist clergy that the government introduces legislature to control religious conversion The small communities of Christian evangelicals working mainly in the rural areas are often the targets of organized religious oppression. Those creating the anti-Christian attitudes use the public platform and the influence of the local monk to rouse the villagers to violence, and this has often resulted in damage or physical injury. The apathy of the law enforcers, who are mostly Buddhist, has resulted in the burning of 24 churches during the past two years.