The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) published a comprehensive report on the growing human rights concerns and erosion of democratic principles under Sri Lanka’s legislative system. This is primarily because laws and bills introduced since 2023 have given “broad powers to the security forces” and expanded “restrictions on freedom of expression and opinion and association.” If broad powers are misused, then this could jeopardize the rule of law and fundamental freedoms. The Online Safety Bill was cited as an example of restricting the freedom of opinion and expression, as it gave the government commission sweeping powers to assess and remove ‘prohibited’ content.
As Sri Lanka heads into the presidential election, concerns over the state of democracy in the country have intensified, with significantly more broad powers held by the government’s security forces and restricted fundamental freedoms of expression, opinion, and association. There have even been reports on a trend of increased surveillance and harassment of journalists and civil society actors in Sri Lanka, particularly those working on sensitive political issues such as enforced disappearances and land seizures. For example, on October 28, 2023, journalists Punniyamoorthy Sasikaran and Valasingham Krishnakumar were questioned after covering a protest against state-supported land seizures. They were later ordered by the court to hand over unedited footage of a Buddhist monk threatening violence against the Tamil community.
The report also offers some recommendations and reforms, such as repealing the controversial Online Safety Bill. This section seeks to provide a roadmap for both the Sri Lankan government and the international community in light of the above challenges. However, the effectiveness of these recommendations will depend on the political will of Sri Lankan authorities and pressure from international actors to prioritize basic freedoms and human rights.
Sri Lanka has been grappling with a severe economic crisis since 2022, worsened by global economic instability and debt distress, and its economy is still in a precarious position. The crisis has also significantly impacted the human rights situation, as the UN report highlights. The upcoming election, scheduled for September 21, 2024, therefore comes at a critical juncture for Sri Lanka, being the first presidential vote as the country recovers from its recent economic collapse.
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