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Sri Lanka: UN experts sound alarm on economic crisis

GENEVA (20 July 2022) – Independent Experts* today (Wednesday) expressed alarm about record high inflation, rising commodity prices, power shortages, crippling fuel crisis and the economic collapse in Sri Lanka, as the country grapples with unprecedented political turmoil.This crisis has had a serious impact on the enjoyment of human rights for the entire population, the experts said.
“Time and again, we have seen the grave systemic repercussions a debt crisis has had on countries, exposing deep structural gaps of the global financial system, and affecting the implementation of human rights,” said Attiya Waris, UN independent expert on foreign debt and human rights.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa stepped down on 15 July, after fleeing the country as protestors stormed key government buildings in the capital Colombo. New leadership has been elected by the Parliament today.Mass protests broke out in March following heavy shortages of food, fuel, medicines, and other essential items compounded by a series of ill-conceived economic reforms like tax cuts and servicing debt payments that ate into the country’s forex reserves. Prolonged disrupted access to food and healthcare has severely affected people with illnesses, pregnant women and lactating mothers who are in serious need of life-assistance.
Earlier this year, UN experts urged the Sri Lankan government to guarantee the fundamental rights of peaceful assembly and expression during peaceful protests as thousands of people gathered in front of the President’s office in Colombo, demanding his resignation over corruption and mishandling of the economic crisis. On 9 May, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet condemned the violence which erupted across the country, killing at least seven people.
As foreign reserves dried up, unable to make interest payments on the loans, the country defaulted on the debt of USD 51 billion in May 2022. After suspending all debt payments, the government took steps to restructure the country’s debt with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In June, IMF staff noted that significant progress had been made on the staff level arrangement on the Extended Fund Facility.
“Any response towards mitigating the economic crisis should have human rights at its core, including in the context of negotiation with the IMF”, Waris said.
The UN experts noted that the issue of rising institutional debt had been flagged in a previous country visit report to Sri Lanka in 2019. The report found that debt repayments were the country’s largest expenditure, and emphasised the need for complementary alternatives and pursuit of less harmful policy options.
In July 2022, inflation in the country hit a record high of 54.6 per cent while food inflation rose to 81 per cent. The snowballing economic and debt crisis was deepened by the government’s hasty and botched agricultural transition. Under such conditions, the World Food Programme has launched an emergency response, warning that nearly 62,000 Sri Lankans were in need of urgent assistance.
“Sri Lanka’s economic collapse needs immediate global attention, not just from humanitarian agencies, but from international financial institutions, private lenders and other countries who must come to the country’s aid,” the experts said.
*The experts: Ms Attiya Waris, Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights; Mr.Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Mr. Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food; Ms.Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right to health; Ms. Melissa Upreti (Chair), Ms. Dorothy Estrada Tanck (Vice-Chair), Ms. Elizabeth Broderick, Ms. Ivana Radačić, and Ms. Meskerem Geset Techane Working Group on discrimination against women and girls.
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Sri Lanka Navy joins commencement of AMAN-2025

The multinational naval exercise AMAN-2025, hosted by the Pakistan Navy for the ninth time, commenced at Pakistan Navy Dockyard in Karachi on 07 Feb 25. The event was attended by Commanding Officer and crew of SLNS Vijayabahu, representing the Sri Lanka Navy.
AMAN-2025 will be held from 07 to 11 Feb in Karachi, and the multinational naval exercise will see the attendance of Navy Chiefs, stakeholders and think tank from maritime fraternity, from 60 nations.
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SME representatives accuse presidential aide of instigating protest against Central Bank

A presidential advisor, identified as D. Gamage, had asked a delegation representing the SME sector to “surround the Central Bank” instead of troubling officers at the Presidential Secretariat, Susantha Liyanaarachchi, Chairman of the National Construction Association of Sri Lanka (NCASL) told the media yesterday near the Presidential Secretariat.
Liyanaarachchi said so following a meeting with Gamage, on Friday, during a protest staged by a group of small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs, affiliated with the MSME Joint Alliance, outside the Presidential Secretariat against parate executions.
Five representatives were permitted to enter the Secretariat, where they also submitted a 17-point proposal aimed at reviving the domestic coconut oil industry.
“Gamage said there was no point in coming to the Presidential Secretariat. He asked us to surround the Central Bank. What an awful officer. We came here to settle our issues amicably, and Gamage told us to surround the Central Bank,” Liyanaarachchi said.
Liyanaarachchi also stated that the Central Bank did not adhere to instructions given by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, exacerbating the concerns voiced by the MSME entrepreneurs.
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Govt. to seek new indictments in Lasantha murder case

By Saman Indrajith
The government would try to initiate fresh indictments in the Lasantha Wickrematunga murder case, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said on Friday, pledging that those responsible for the murder of journalist Wickrematunga would be held accountable. She also stated that she intended to respond personally to a letter from Wickrematunga’s daughter, Ahimsa, who has called on Parliament to impeach Attorney General Parinda Ransinghe (Jr.) over the recent release of three suspects.
Ahimsa Wickrematunga’s request for impeachment followed the release of several individuals—among them a police officer—who had been arrested on accusations of destroying evidence, including a notebook belonging to her father and key police records. Speaking in Parliament, Prime Minister Amarasuriya said, “I plan to respond directly to Ms Wickrematunga, as I fully understand her concerns and the distress she must be experiencing. We are doing our utmost to observe due process and uphold the independence of the Attorney General’s office, but justice must prevail.”
She went on to say, “We intend to seek justice for Lasantha Wickrematunga’s murder. President [Dissanayake] has met with those involved to determine the best course of action. We are examining the possibility of refiling or initiating new inquiries if necessary, as there is plenty of evidence.”
Opposition legislator Rauff Hakeem noted that the suspects were released on a technicality related to an identification parade, and expressed concern that the Attorney General was selectively releasing certain suspects, despite there being many dedicated officers within the Department. He added, “Ultimately, the purpose of all our judicial institutions is to deliver justice. If procedures obstruct that aim, we must re-examine them.”
Prime Minister Amarasuriya reiterated that the Government is open to debating the matter in Parliament, saying, “We will look at refiling charges or bringing new indictments where appropriate. We fully appreciate the gravity of this situation and the need for transparency, and we will do everything in our power to ensure justice is served.”
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