The latest human rights report on Sri Lanka, prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), will be presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) tomorrow. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk is scheduled to present the report at the Council’s 60th session in Geneva.
In the report, Türk noted that although the National People’s Power government has pledged to amend the Online Safety Act, the law remains in effect. The OHCHR, along with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and UN human rights experts, has previously voiced concerns about the legislation’s vague definitions of offences, wide-ranging enforcement powers, severe penalties, and the absence of adequate judicial oversight.
The report further stated that the combined effect of the Online Safety Act and the Prevention of Terrorism Act has created a restrictive legal framework that limits the rights to freedom of opinion and expression both online and offline. It called on the Sri Lankan government to repeal or amend laws, including the OSA and the ICCPR Act, which unduly restrict fundamental freedoms such as expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath will travel to Geneva to represent Sri Lanka at the UNHRC session. The Council will hold an interactive dialogue tomorrow on the OHCHR’s comprehensive report, which reviews progress on reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in Sri Lanka.
A new resolution on Sri Lanka is expected later this month, with September 25 set as the deadline for draft submissions.
