To His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka!
Request to End Violence and Discrimination Against Women and Repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
We, the members of the Eastern Provincial Women Human Rights Defenders Organization,
write to you today with an earnest appeal to address the urgent issues of violence and
discrimination against women in Sri Lanka. Specifically, we urge you to repeal the Prevention
of Terrorism Act (PTA) and implement a new legal framework aligned with the Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
On this day, 14 December 2024, we gathered in Trincomalee to present this memorandum
through a media conference, representing the collective voice of women in Sri Lanka who
endure multifaceted challenges.
The Current Situation
Women across Sri Lanka, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or social background, continue to
face patriarchal oppression and violence in family, workplace, and state institutions. Particularly
alarming is the increase in:
Cybercrimes targeting women and girls.
Sexual harassment and violence against schoolgirls.
Despite some progress, such as the recent Trincomalee Upper Court ruling sentencing a
perpetrator of child sexual abuse to 30 years of rigorous imprisonment, many victims still lack
timely and effective justice. Legal gaps and enforcement failures enable perpetrators to escape
accountability, perpetuating cycles of violence and discrimination.
Furthermore, the CEDAW, an international treaty to eliminate discrimination against women,
has not been fully enacted into domestic law. This omission hampers efforts to protect women
and penalize offenders effectively.
Challenges Faced in the North and East
Women in the North and East, particularly those affected by the armed conflict (e.g., relatives of
forcibly disappeared persons, former combatants, and displaced women), face unique challenges,
including:
Harassment and intimidation by state authorities when engaging in democratic protests
and rights-based actions.
Continued interrogation of women human rights defenders and activists, such as the
recent case of Ms. Navarathinam Anjalidevi, a 61-year-old activist from Trincomalee,
who was questioned under the CTID on 4 December 2024.
These actions suppress the democratic rights of women to demand justice and hold their
government accountable.
Our Appeal
Your Excellency, we call on you to prioritize the safety, dignity, and rights of all Sri Lankan
women by addressing these critical issues. Empowering women through legal reforms and
safeguarding the work of human rights defenders will pave the way for a more just and
democratic society.
We trust in your commitment to upholding human rights and urge you to take immediate action
on these matters.
Our Demands
We respectfully request Your Excellency to address the following urgent demands:
1. Strengthen Legal Protections for Women:
o Expand and amend laws to effectively combat violence against women.
o Fully implement the provisions of CEDAW into Sri Lankan law to ensure
comprehensive protection for women.
2. Cease Harassment of Women Human Rights Activists:
o Immediately halt the interrogation and intimidation of women activists and human
rights defenders, particularly in the North and East.
3. Repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA):
o Abolish the PTA entirely, and refrain from introducing any replacement
legislation that undermines fundamental rights, as existing laws are sufficient to
address crimes against the state.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Eastern Provincial Women Human Rights Defenders Organization
Trincomalee, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
14 December 2024