The human rights situation in Sri Lanka has taken a disturbing turn under the leadership of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, as highlighted in the World Report 2021 by Human Rights Watch.
In a marked shift, government security forces have intensified their efforts to intimidate and monitor human rights activists, journalists, lawyers, and those who have been victims of past abuses. Within the nation, minority Tamil and Muslim communities are grappling with discrimination and threats. The government’s recent constitutional amendment has raised concerns about weakened judicial independence and reduced oversight powers of institutions such as the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. Adding to the distress, Sri Lanka withdrew its commitments to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 2015 agreement, which aimed at pursuing truth, accountability, and reconciliation after the country’s protracted civil war.
Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch, commented, “The Rajapaksa administration has quickly reversed human rights gains of the previous government, making minorities more insecure, victims of past abuses fearful, and critics wary of speaking out.”
President Rajapaksa has appointed individuals with alleged involvement in war crimes during the 2009 civil war, including Kamal Gunaratne, the defense secretary, and Gen. Shavendra Silva, the chief of defense staff. Gen. Silva, in particular, faced travel restrictions by the United States due to his suspected role in extrajudicial killings.
The administration’s tactics have expanded to encompass increased surveillance and intimidation, targeting not only human rights defenders but also victims’ families, lawyers, and journalists critical of the government’s actions. These measures extend even to those who have engaged with international bodies like the Human Rights Council.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government’s response to false accusations on social media that Muslims were intentionally spreading the virus, as well as calls for boycotting Muslim businesses, has been inadequate. Additionally, the government mandated the cremation of all Covid-19 victims, regardless of Islamic burial traditions, sparking outcry from international human rights experts.
Michelle Bachelet, the UN high commissioner for human rights, expressed concerns over the government’s use of Covid-19 to suppress freedom of expression, criticizing the pardon of a soldier previously convicted of serious abuses. Bachelet also voiced alarm about the appointment of senior military officials implicated in war crimes to key civilian roles.
In light of these developments, the UN Human Rights Council is set to discuss potential actions regarding Sri Lanka during its February-March 2021 session. These measures could include calls for an international accountability mechanism to address past abuses.
As events unfold, it becomes essential for concerned governments to take a stand against the potential resurgence of human rights violations in Sri Lanka. To prevent the country from sliding back into a history of grave abuses, international pressure is needed to ensure accountability and the preservation of evidence.
By Malki Perera