Sri Lanka - November 2025

On 29 November, Sri Lanka’s government declared a state of emergency following the worst natural disaster in decades. ‘Cyclone Ditwah’ resulted in over 600 deaths, with thousands of homes destroyed and hundreds of people still missing. The emergency laws grant the president sweeping powers to override existing laws, deploy armed forces, impose curfews and regulate media and essential services. While the use of emergency laws in Sri Lanka is not unprecedented, their continued use as a default response to crises—particularly under a new administration that came into office after the mass protests in 2022—raises significant concerns. Civil society organizations note that recovery efforts should be addressed through existing laws such as the Disaster Management Act. A key concern raised is that the emergency laws create yet another council under the president, duplicating the Disaster Management Council and undermining accountability and civilian governance.

Sources: Centre for Policy Alternatives, New York Times, Colombo Telegraph