15th November, 2022.
Dear Ambassadors/High Commissioners,
Re: Call on the GoSL to stop repression against peaceful protesters and unconditionally Release IUSF student leaders held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act
We, the undersigned civil society organisations, trade unions and human rights activists from Sri Lanka, unequivocally condemn the violent repression of dissent by the Sri Lankan State, and the blatant denial of the people’s freedoms of expression and association.
Sri Lankan authorities have responded to peaceful protests and legitimate demands for a responsible and accountable government, through violence and legal reprisals. We are concerned by the systematic use of force to disperse and punish protesters, and legal persecution, including arbitrary arrest and detention as a form of reprisal. We are especially alarmed by the use of anti-terror law – the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) against protesters, despite assurances to the international community of a moratorium on its use. Wasantha Mudalige, the Convenor of the Inter University Student Federation (IUSF) and Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma, Convenor of the Inter University Bhikku Federation (IUBF) have been detained for almost 90 days without charge and recourse to bail under the PTA. Families and lawyers of the detained students have repeatedly raised concerns regarding their inhumane detention conditions, which are unsanitary, unsafe and have impacted their health. Young student activist of the IUSF, Hashan Jeewantha, who was arrested along with Mudalige and Ven. Siridhamma on 18 August, 2022, was unconditionally released on 07 October (having spent 50 days in detention,) without any charges against him.
United Nations special procedures including the mandates on Freedom of Expression, Human Rights Defenders, and international human rights organisations, in responding to the State of repression on protesters and the shrinking civic space in the country.
We appreciate your support in demanding for the immediate release of Wasantha Mudalige and Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma, by the Government of Sri Lanka, prior to the expiry of their detention orders on 18 November, 2022. We call on the international community to ensure an end to this targeted persecution of student leaders and activists, and that there be no extension to their 90 day detention order under the PTA.
We maintain that all engagement with Sri Lanka must be based on clear and transparent human rights benchmarks – this includes trade and financial engagement in order to ensure real transformation and prevent recurrence.
The IUSF, along with trade unions, professionals and civil society groups, have made a crucial contribution to the recent peoples’ uprising that forced the previous President, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance to resign from their positions. With the high inflation and deepening economic crisis, people have been continuously protesting over the unbearable rise in the price of goods and services, bad governance, corruption and a lack of State accountability. Protesters are also calling for an immediate end to State repression which has escalated under the Presidency of Ranil Wickremesinghe. Protesters have been able to garner the support of the international community, who played a vital role in ensuring pressure on the Government of Sri Lanka, for its conduct leading to the economic crisis, but also on reprisals against peaceful dissent. We appreciate the oversight and engagement of the diplomatic community, United Nations special procedures including the mandates on Freedom of Expression, Human Rights Defenders, and international human rights organisations, in responding to the State of repression on protesters and the shrinking civic space in the country. In this light, we believe that your support in strengthening the voice of the protesters in demanding the release of student leaders, Wasantha Mudalige and Ven. Siridhamma himi, is crucial to fulfilling the people’s expectations to preserve democratic values. We also would like to reiterate that even though that certain parties in the international community hold the favourable disposition towards President Wickremesinghe and his proposed plan to resolve the current economic crisis, his unscrupulous schemes to suppress public protests, restrict peoples’ freedoms of expression and association should never be condoned.
In a time of economic, social and political crisis, we are further concerned that the Government’s actions against its people will hinder the GSP+ concession which is up for review next year. We maintain that all engagement with Sri Lanka must be based on clear and transparent human rights benchmarks – this includes trade and financial engagement in order to ensure real transformation and prevent recurrence. Government attempts to label and criminalize citizen protests through mis/dis information, and to shift the blame for the imminent loss of the GSP+ on protesters and ordinary citizens, is disingenuous and must not be accepted. The Government must accept and withdraw its repressive mandate, impunity and corruption, which has led to the economic crisis.
We, as civil society organisations, continue to advocate for the repeal of the PTA in any form, which is being used now 13 years after the end of the war. We believe that this draconian law has been deliberately misused to violate the rights and freedoms of the people of Sri Lanka, particularly to repress the Tamil and Muslim minorities and curtail dissent, specifically the voices that may be critical against the government. According to the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID), there are 127 detainees in total, detained under the PTA to date, and a further 11 persons have died in custody.[1]
Therefore, we call on Your Excellency, to support our struggle to protect rights and freedoms in Sri Lanka. Your support is an important contribution to the work being done on the ground by civil society, student movements, unions and ordinary citizens. We further request your support in calling on the Government of Sri Lanka to immediately end suppression on the fundamental rights of Sri Lankans, and all forms of harassment and intimidation against protesters, the release of those detained under the PTA as well as the repeal of this draconian law.
Signed by;
Individuals
- Ajitha
- M.S.D. Perera
- Amali Wedagedara
- Amalini de Sayrah
- Angelica Chandrasekeran – Holistic Therapist & Metaphysical Counselor
- Anithra Varia
- Anthony Vinoth – Human Rights Activist
- Anuratha Rajaretnam
- Anushaya Collure
- Ashila Dandeniya
- Gowthaman
- Sukitha
- Bhavani Fonseka
- Bishop Duleep de Chickera – Member, Anglican Church of Sri Lanka
- Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe
- Buddhima Padmasiri – Attorney-at-Law
- Caryll Tozer – Environmental and Women and Child Rights Activist
- Chamila Thushari
- Chandra Devanarayana
- Channaka Jayasinghe
- Chintaka Rajapakse
- Christine Perera – Activist
- G.N.U.K. Jayarathna
- Damaris Wickremesekera
- Deanne Uyangoda
- Deekshya Illangasinghe
- Devika Kodithuwakku
- Dhammika Munasinghe
- Dhanusha Pathirana
- Dharmasiri Lankapeli – Chairperson, Socialist People’s Forum
- Dilrukshi Handunnetti – Journalist and Attorney-at-Law
- Dinushika Dissanayake
- Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
- Ranil D. Guneratne
- Dulan de Silva
- Duminda Nagamuwa
- Ephraim Shadrach
- Ermiza Tegal – Attorney-at-Law
- Francis Costa Priyankara
- Gamini Akmeemana
- Gamini Sisira Kumara
- Gayathri Gamage
- Geethika Dharmasinghe – Visiting Professor, Colgate University
- Godfrey Yogarajah
- Gratian A. Peiris – Transformation Facilitator
- Hemamali Abeyrathna
- Herman Kumara
- Ian Ferdinands
- Thayalini
- A.N.N.P. Fernando – Accountant & Social Activist
- B. Gurusinghe
- Jayalath Perera
- Jayani Abeysekara – Human Rights Activist
- Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala
- Joanne Senn
- Joseph Stalin
- Hemalatha
- Nihal Ahamed
- Saththiyaseelan
- J. Brito Fernando
- Kalpa Munasinghe
- Lakshman Gunasekara – President, Sri Lanka Chapter, South Asian Free Media Association
- Lasantha de Silva
- Lucille Abeykoon
- Nirmalathevi
- Sitralega – Independent Feminist Researcher, Batticaloa
- Mario Arulthas
- Mario Gomez
- Marisa de Silva
- Marx Prabhagar
- Mayura Senanayaka
- Mirak Raheem – Researcher and Activist
- Arththigan
- Nabeela Iqbal
- Nadishani Perera
- Nagulan Nesiah
- Natasha Vanhoff
- Nilshan Fonseka
- Muthulingam
- Pushpalatha
- G. Gamage – Human Rights Activist
- N. Singham
- Padma Pushpakanthi
- Pasan Jayasinghe
- Peter Rezel – Management Consultant
- Philip Dissanayake
- Philip Setunga
- Prabodha Rathnayaka – Attorney-at-Law
- Puni Selvaratnam – Women for Justice and Peace in Sri Lanka
- Kounthini
- Ranjan
- Rajany Rajeshwary
- Rajkumar Rajeevkanth
- Ranjan Senanayake
- Rekha Nilukshi
- Fr. Jeyabalan Croos
- Fr. Nandana Manatunga
- Sr. Nichola Emmanuel
- Rohini Hensman – Writer and Researcher
- Rosanna Flamer-Caldera
- Rosel Sameera
- Ruki Fernando
- Ruwan Laknath Jayakody – Writer
- Amarasinghe
- Easwarai
- Ethayarani
- Mariyarosalin
- Mohana Dharshiny
- Niththi
- Tharsan
- Thileepan
- C.C. Elankovan
- T. Ganeshalingam
- Sabra Zahid
- Sakuntala Kadirgamar
- Sampath Samarakoon
- Sandun Thudugala
- Sarah Arumugam – Attorney-at-Law
- Sarala Emmanuel
- Sarath Karunadasa
- Saroj Pathirana – Journalist, “Sandeshaya by Saroj”
- Sathivel Visvalinam
- Sheila Richards
- Shreen Saroor
- Shyam Pathiraja
- Shyamala Gomez
- Sirithunga Jayasooriya – General Secretary, United Socialist Party
- Srinath Perera – Attorney-at-Law
- Subathra Yogasingham
- Suchith Abeyewickreme – Civic Activist
- Sunanda Deshapriya
- Swasthika Arulingam
- V. Sankha Ranadheera
- Tempitiye Sugathananda himi
- Tharindu Jayawardhana
- Tharindu Uduwaragedara
- Thilak Kariyawasam
- Thyagi Ruwanpathirana
- Tisaranee Gunasekara
- Upul Wickramasinghe – Durham University
- Mahenderan – National Organiser, New Democratic Marxist-Leninist Party
- Shamini
- Sinthuka
- Vaas Gunawardena
- Viraj Abayarathna
- Visakha Tillekeratne
- Wasantha Karunatilake
- Wijepala Weerakoon
- B. Jayasekara
- Yamini Ravindran – Attorney-at-Law
Organisations/Unions/Networks
- All Employee Union of Information and Telecommunication
- Alliance Development Trust
- Alliance for Minorities
- Ampara District Alliance for Land Rights (ADALR)
- Centre for Equality and Justice (CEJ)
- Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)
- Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union
- Ceylon Teachers’ Union
- Collective for Progressive Unity
- Commercial & Industrial Workers Union (CIWU)
- Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP)
- Community Welfare and Development Fund
- Dabindu Collective
- Equal Ground
- Families of the Disappeared (FoD)
- Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions
- FIAN Sri Lanka
- Forum for a Plural Democracy
- Free Media Movement (FMM)
- Free Trade Union Centre
- Free Women
- Government Midwife Services Union
- Human Elevation Organization (HEO)
- Human Rights Office, Kandy
- Institute of Social Development (ISD)
- Insurance General Employees Union
- International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES)
- Joint Development Officers Center
- Joint Engineering Corporation Employees Union
- Joint Health Workers Union
- Joint Railway Employees Union
- Joint Teachers Service Union
- Joint Water Supply Workers Union
- Justice for Victims
- Lanka Progressive Teachers Union
- Law and Society Trust (LST)
- Lawyers Forum for the People
- Liberation Movement
- Mannar Women’s Development Federation (MWDF)
- Mass Movement for Social Justice (MMSJ)
- Maynmai
- Media Law Forum (MLF)
- Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR)
- Movement for Plantation Peoples’ Land Rights (MPPLR)
- Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum (MWRAF)
- National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO)
- National Trade Protection Council
- People’s Alliance for Right to Land (PARL)
- Plantation Workers Centre
- Praja Abhilasha Network
- Private Sector Employees Centre
- Professional Center for People
- Protect Union
- Revolutionary Experience of Human Development (RED)
- Right to Life (R2L) Human Rights Centre
- Rule of Law Forum
- Satahan Media
- Savisthri National Women’s Movement
- Sisterhood Initiative
- Social Institute for Development of Plantation Sector (SIDPS)
- Sri Lanka All Telecommunication Employees Union (SLATEU)
- Sri Lanka Nature Group (SLNG)
- Standup Movement Lanka
- Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL)
- United Federation of Labour (UFL)
- United General Services Union
- Upcountry Civil Society Collective (UCSC)
- Vallamai Movement for Social Change, Jaffna
- Women’s Action Network (WAN)
- Women’s Action for Social Justice
- Women’s Liberation Thought Organisation
- Workers Struggle Center
- Young Journalists Association (YJA)
- Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA)
- YOUTH FOR CHEnge
[1] Terrorist Investigation Division of Police, Sri Lanka has released the information of the total number detained under PTA, https://twitter.com/ambikasat/status/1589831742181249024?t=ozgt2SMqAs9oDHVhPmjP_g&s=19