E/CN.4/1995/91/Add.1 page 99 Offences against religion The Penal Code of Sri Lanka makes the following acts relating to religion criminal offences punishable with imprisonment or a fine or both: 1. Injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class of persons (sect. 290). 2. Any act in relation to any place of worship or object held sacred by any class with the intention of wounding the religious feelings of any class (sect. 290A). 3. Voluntarily disturbing a religious assembly (sect. 291). 4. Uttering any words, sounds or making any gestures in the presence of any person with the deliberate intention of wounding religious feelings (sect. 291A). 5. Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs (sect. 291B)." SWEDEN 48. On 17 June 1994, the Permanent Mission of Sweden transmitted to the Special Rapporteur information broadly outlining the constitutional and legal system in Sweden for the guarantee of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief; the text reads: "Chapter 1 of the Instrument of Government (IG), one of the Swedish constitutional laws, contains a section (2) which deals with certain social, economic and cultural rights and lays down the fundamental basis upon which the State should exercise public power. It reads as follows: ’Public power shall be exercised with respect for the equal worth of all and for the freedom and dignity of the individual. The personal, economic and cultural welfare of the individual shall be fundamental aims of public activity. In particular, it shall be incumbent upon the public administration to secure the right to work, housing and education, and to promote social care and social security and a good living environment. The public administration shall promote the ideals of democracy as guidelines in all sectors of society. The public administration shall guarantee equal rights to men and women and protect the private and family lives of the individual. Opportunities should be promoted for ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities to preserve and develop a cultural and social life of their own.’