A civil society grouping in a statement issued yesterday (13) strongly criticised the government over its human rights record. The statement was issued by over two dozens activists hours after the 48th sessions of the Geneva- based UNHRC commenced.

Identifying themselves as the Civil Society Platform (CSP), the group launched a scathing attack over accountability issues and post-war issues, including what they claimed was continuing harassment of the civil society.

Sri Lankan Collective for Consensus (SLCC), comprising representatives of several civil society groups, earlier held talks with the government. Among the government representatives were President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris.

The CSP said that while the group acknowledged the efforts made by the government to meet the Covid-19 challenge, its action and inaction since has only exacerbated the challenges faced by the people. At the same time, increasing authoritarianism and militarisation, including the COVID-19 “response and the culture of impunity have eroded civic space and undermined the protection of human rights. The re-imposition of a state of emergency on the pretext of addressing food distribution is an additional concern. Resorting to promulgation of Emergency Regulations in an arbitrary manner further concentrates unrestrained power in the hands of the executive and is not conducive to democratic, inclusive and transparent decision making regarding the public good. It creates an environment in which the human rights of citizens can be further curtailed and even violated.

The group raised the government allegedly depriving the civil society the freedom to operate.

“In recent months we have witnessed an alarming shrinking of civic space in Sri Lanka. This is in a context of heightened surveillance and threats to, and harassment of human rights defenders, survivors and families of victims, such as the families of the disappeared, who advocate for protection of human rights and truth and justice. The government and its affiliates have also demonized the work of non-governmental organisations through multiple means and presented them as potential threats to national security.

“This is against the backdrop of the National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO Secretariat), being brought once again within the purview of the Ministry of Defence in December 2019, and steps being taken to draft legislation to reportedly curb the activities of civil society organisations. In addition, since December 2019 state officials at the district and divisional level have brought into effect cumbersome informal and arbitrary rules by which civil society organisations have to abide to obtain approval and implement their projects.  Furthermore, during meetings with NGOs at the district level, officers of the NGO Secretariat have been abusive and used disrespectful language when addressing personnel from civil society organisations. Cabinet ministers continue to use the term NGOs in a hostile manner, perpetuating the anti-NGO culture reminiscent of the repressive era when NGOs faced intimidation and threats both from the State and unidentified entities.

We note with concern the cabinet decision to replace the Voluntary Social Service Organizations (Registration and Supervision) Act No. 31 of 1980 as amended (VSSO Act). Civil society concerns in this regard which the NGO coalition working on this issue shared with the NGO Secretariat have gone unaddressed. The government’s engagement with civil society on the proposed law should not be cosmetic but meaningful and take into account the legitimate concerns of civil society. Furthermore, any new law must not restrict the rights of civil society organisations to work freely on issues of human rights and transitional justice or place undue impediments to their functioning.

The group raised the following issues in its statement:PTA, Freedom of Expression, Transitional Justice, Enforced Disappearances and Missing Persons, Arbitrary Use of Quarantine Regulations, failure on the part of the government to build confidence among the minorities and independent commissions. The group demanded an acceptable solution to the ethnic conflict, condemn the inordinate delay in investigating 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, delay in introducing reforms to the Muslim marriage and Divorce Act and burial rights for Covid-19 victims.

The following endorsed the statement:

1. Families of the Disappeared

2. Centre for Policy Alternatives

3. IMADR- Asia Committee

4. Right to Life Human Rights Centre

5. Women and Media Collective

6. Rights Now for Collective Democracy

7. Centre for Society and Religion

8. Women’s Action Network

9. Mothers and Daughters of Lanka

10. Centre for Women and Development – Jaffna

11. Law and Society Trust

12. AHAM Humanitarian Resource Center(AHRC), Trincomalee

13 Rural Development Foundation

14. Institute for Social Development

15. Janawabodha Kendraya

16. Web Journalist Association of Sri Lanka

17. Eastern Social Development Foundation

18. Human Elevation Organisation

19. National Fisheries Solidarity Movement

20. National Fisher Women’s Federation

21. Mannar Women’s Development Federation

22. Malarum Mottukal Women’s Collective

23. Alliance for Minorities

24. Rule of Law Forum

25. Food First Information and Action Network – Sri Lanka

26. International Centre for Ethnic Studies

27. Mannar Social and Economic Development Organization

28. Citizens Committee Human Rights Centre –Gampaha

29. Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organization

30. Centre for Human Rights and Development

Individuals

1. Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu

2. Dr. Gehan Gunatilleke

3. Dr Nimalka Fernando

4. Dr Mario Gomez

5. Dr Sakunthala Kadirgamar

6. Rev Rohan De SIlva

7. Mr Britto Fernando

8. Ms Shreen Saroor

9. Ms Ambika Sathkunanathan

10. Mr Philip Dissanayake

11. Ms Kumudhini Samuel

12. Mr. Godfrey Yogarajah

13. Mr Prabodha Ratnayake

14. Mr Ameer Faaiz

15. Mr. Thilak Kariyawasam

16. Ms Saroja Sivachandran

17. Mr Aruna Shantha Nonis

18. Ms Bhavani Fonseka

19. Mr Ruki Fernando

20. Mr Periyasami.Muthulingam

21. Mr Gowthaman Balachandran

22. Mr Sudarshana Gunawardana

23. Mr Freddy Gamage

24. Mr Abdul Ramees

25. Ms Sumika Perera

26. Ms Marreen Srinika Nilasini

27. Mr Asanka Abeyrathna.

28. Ms Mahaluxmy Kurushanthan

29. Mr Herman Kumara

30. Mr Jehan Jegatheesan

31. Mr.Yartan Figurado

32 Mr Shantha Pathirana

33Ms A.D. Rajani

34 Ms M.Kusum Silva

35 Mr Vinoth Anthony