Sri Lanka - April 2023

Sri Lanka’s government gazetted the Anti-Terrorism Bill on 22 March, intended to replace the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Human rights experts and civil society organizations (CSOs) have criticized the new draft bill for perpetuating provisions used in the PTA to facilitate abuse and silence dissent. The proposed bill allegedly contains overbroad and vague language that defines any anti-government political activity as terrorism, which would give authorities broad powers to detain people on criminal speech offences. Rights experts are urging the government to drop or revise the draft bill to prevent the continued restrictions on civic freedoms. As of 6 April, the government delayed tabling the bill to consider comments and suggestions from the public and CSOs until 31 May.

Sources: Human Rights Watch, Daily FT (1), Daily FT (2), Centre for Policy Alternatives

Local government elections due to be held on 25 April have been postponed again, with a new date pending a court decision on the availability of funds. The delay comes despite a Supreme Court (SC) interim order issued last month ordering the Treasury to not withhold funds for the election. Refusing to comply with the Interim Order, several Members of Parliament instead requested an inquiry into a potential breach of parliamentary privileges by the SC judges who gave the order, which human rights organizations allege further undermines the judiciary and demonstrates a further attempt at postponing elections. The government has repeatedly claimed it lacks the funds to hold the vote, which critics claim comes as the government fears it could fare badly at the polls.

Sources: Asian Network for Free Elections, The Island, International Commission of Jurists, Colombo Telegraph