Colombo, March 10 (Daily Mirror) – The Department of Immigration and Emigration in Sri Lanka is warning of strict procedures for issuing visas to foreign religious propagandists. These individuals want to organize prayer meetings in Sri Lanka. They need clearance from multiple state offices. The Daily Mirror has learned that many people abuse travel regulations by using simple visit visas.
The authorities are very worried about a growing trend. Foreign preachers are coming to Sri Lanka. They hold blessing festivals and prayer meetings with just a tourist visa. They do unlawful religious propaganda without the local religious and cultural officials knowing.
This issue became known when two evangelical pastors from India tried to organize a two – day blessing festival in Jaffna. A special team of immigration officials from Colombo stopped it. This happened after complaints and strong protests from Hindu religious groups in the area.
On Wednesday, the officials raided a gathering. It was taking place at a place called Christ Evangelical Church in Matakal West, Jaffna District, from March 5 to 7. They took two foreign pastors in for questioning.
A senior official from the department’s Investigation Division told the Daily Mirror that about 100 people had come to the location for the religious meeting. Banners and posters had advertised it as the 7th Anniversary of the Evangelical Christ Church.
Initial investigations showed that the two Indian nationals, Pastor Edwin Glory Thomas and Pastor Johnson, had come to the country from Bangalore. They were invited by the local evangelical church for its blessing festival of healing and prayer.
But when asked, they showed their passports with a 30 – day on – arrival visit visa for the religious festival. The authorities later said it was illegal to do or spread religious work without permission.
The official said that if someone comes to the country for religious propaganda, they should first get approval from the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Cultural and Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Defence. Then they should apply for a relevant religious – category visa from the Department of Immigration and Emigration well in advance.
The early publicity of the Matakal blessing festival caused a lot of tension among Hindu religious groups in the North. They informed the immigration department and the local police.
The official said that these unapproved prayer meetings could cause religious disharmony in an area or the whole country. That’s why the strict visa procedures have been put in place.
Last March, the famous Tamil Nadu – based Evangelist Paul Dhinakaran and his family came to Jaffna for a blessing festival. Immigration officials sent them back after strong protests from Hindus in the area.
On Wednesday, the immigration officials took the passports of the two Indian pastors. They ordered them to come back to Colombo right away. The pastors did as they were told. They will be removed from the country soon.
