News
HRW says EU should work with intl partners to prevent abuses in Lanka
Seven United Nations human rights experts on Dec 9 have published five benchmarks that are “necessary prerequisites” for making the law compliant with Sri Lanka’s international human rights obligations, the Human Rights Watch said in a report.
Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia Director of the Human Rights Watch in her report said Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa carries little credibility when he tells foreign diplomats he will reform the country’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
“After all, earlier this year, he acted to make the law, which permits long-term detention without trial, more repressive, not less,” Ganguly noted.
Amid growing domestic and international pressure, his administration set up a committee to propose amendments to the PTA, chaired by Defense Secretary Kamal Gunaratne, a retired general whose forces were implicated in war crimes. The draft has not been released, but comments by the justice secretary seem to rule out meaningful civil society consultations.
Sri Lankan activists have been scathing about the process, pointing out in a joint statement that reported revisions “already exist in law and do not address any of the shortcomings in the PTA that enable grave human rights violations.”
Like Sri Lankan activists, the United Nations human rights experts have also called for an immediate moratorium on the PTA’s use.
The South Asia Director says the matter is all the more relevant as the European Union is conducting an assessment of Sri Lanka’s compliance with its human rights obligations. The country’s tariff-free access to the EU market depends on a trade scheme called GSP+. When Sri Lanka regained GSP+ in 2017, it pledged to repeal or reform the PTA, among many other rights commitments that remain unfulfilled.
“A European Parliament resolution in June and the GSP+ assessment have created unprecedented momentum for meaningful human rights reform in Sri Lanka. But the outcome will ultimately depend on the EU’s level of ambition and assertiveness. The EU should not allow itself to be hoodwinked by a sham PTA reform.”
“As respect for human rights in Sri Lanka has been declining alarmingly under President Rajapaksa, Brussels has an historic opportunity to help reverse this trend and press the government to meet its human rights obligations,” the HRW said.
“The EU should also work with international partners – the United States this month sanctioned two more Sri Lankans linked to grave rights violations – and act to prevent further abuses in Sri Lanka,” South Asia Director of the Human Rights Watch said.
Latest News
Ms. U. L. Mathisha Jinanjalie Jayathilake, appointedto the post of Commissioner, Department of Probation and Child Protection Services
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs to appoint Ms. U. L. Mathisha Jinanjalie Jayathilake, the officer in Grade I of Sri Lanka Administrative Service to the post of the Commissioner at the Department of Probation and Child Protection Services with immediate effect.
The Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Damian Fernando paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the Parliament, Dr Jagath Wickramaratne at the Office of the Speaker, today (7 July
2026).
The meeting marked the Commander of the Navy’s first official interaction with the Speaker following his assumption of command of the Sri Lanka Navy. During the cordial discussion, they exchanged views on the Navy’s role in matters of national importance.
The formal meeting drew to a close with an exchange of mementoes, signifying the importance of the occasion.
At least 26 people, including five prison officers and 20 inmates, have been confirmed dead following violent unrest at Negombo Prison, hospital sources said yesterday, as authorities struggled to restore full control over the facility.
According to unconfirmed reports the prison officers were killed by rioters yesterday morning, in retaliation, and weapons carried by those officers were grabbed by them.
Negombo General Hospital Director Consultant Dr. Pushpa Gamlath said nearly 100 injured persons had been admitted, following the clashes, and eight of the critically wounded had been transferred to the National Hospital, in Colombo, for further treatment.
The violence, which initially broke out on Sunday (5) between remand prisoners and convicted inmates, left two inmates dead and 38 others injured before being temporarily brought under control.
However, tensions flared again on Monday (6), with prison officials reporting renewed unrest inside the facility despite earlier assurances that the situation had stabilised.
Police said the initial confrontation was triggered by a dispute linked to the exposure of an alleged drug trafficking network, operating within the prison, and was reportedly orchestrated by a drug trafficker, identified as Suresh, who is said to have links to an underworld figure known as ‘Booru Moona’.
The violence rapidly escalated, with female inmates staging a protest on the Prison roof in support of those involved in the clashes, while relatives gathered outside demanding information on detainees. Police later facilitated visits for selected family members to hospitalised inmates.
The Negombo Prison, which houses around 1,800 remand and convicted inmates, descended into widespread disorder as rival groups clashed, with reports indicating that the violence later spread beyond the initial confrontation.
Authorities said rioting inmates had allegedly seized firearms during the renewed unrest on Monday, prompting heightened security measures.
The Sri Lanka Air Force deployed drones for aerial surveillance and a Bell 412 helicopter to monitor the situation, while additional military personnel were sent to reinforce security around the prison.
Prisons Department spokesperson A.C. Gajanayake said a special investigation team had been appointed, under the direction of the Commissioner General of Prisons, to probe the incident, while a separate police investigation is also underway.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara told The Island that he had called for a detailed report on the disturbances.
By Norman Palihawadane
Ms. U. L. Mathisha Jinanjalie Jayathilake, appointedto the post of Commissioner, Department of Probation and Child Protection Services
Argentina stage stunning late comeback to beat Egypt in World Cup last 16
Commander of the Navy pays courtesy call on Speaker of the Parliament
Woman suspected of Monaco bomb attack found dead in Ukraine
Balogun reprieve in vain as Belgium beat USA to set up Spain quarterfinal
Trump confirms he asked Fifa to review Balogun ban
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News3 days agoSingapore-based Buddhist monk marks nearly four decades of humanitarian service
-
News4 days agoFreedom 250: US Embassy celebrates America’s 250th Independence Day through magic of American cinema
-
News5 days agoCIABOC to question Harak Kata on Rs. 200 mn bribery allegation
-
News5 days agoSLAF conducts successful rescue mission under UN command in Central African Republic
-
Midweek Review7 days agoH’tota port’s strategic status remains focal point of geopolitical scrutiny
-
News2 days agoAI concerned over proposed SL military deployment in Haiti
-
News5 days agoUNEP support pledged to strengthen Sri Lanka’s Environmental Priorities
-
Business5 days ago‘Dialog Air Fibre powers a new era of Ultra Fast Home WiFi’