Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called upon the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to advise the Sri Lankan government against advancing draft legislation that would severely restrict civil society, potentially endangering the IMF’s program in the country. In a letter released today (March 13), HRW emphasized the detrimental impact of proposed laws, including the Non-Governmental Organizations (Registration and Supervision) Act, on fundamental freedoms vital for promoting good governance and combating corruption.
The HRW highlighted that despite the IMF’s $3 billion bailout of Sri Lanka, designed to support government reform efforts following the country’s default on foreign debt in 2022, recent legislative actions by President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s administration threaten to undermine progress by severely curtailing basic rights.
According to HRW, the enactment of the Online Safety Act in January introduced ambiguous and wide-ranging speech-related offenses punishable by lengthy prison terms. Additionally, the Anti-Terrorism Bill, currently under parliamentary review, includes sweeping speech-related offenses and arbitrary arrest powers. Furthermore, the proposed law to regulate nongovernmental organizations could effectively stifle independent civil society activity in Sri Lanka.
Meenakshi Ganguly, HRW’s deputy Asia director, emphasized that amidst economic turmoil in 2022, Sri Lankans called for good governance and an end to corruption. However, instead of responding to demands for change, President Wickremesinghe’s administration is cracking down on peaceful dissent.
Citing a 2023 IMF study, HRW noted that efforts to combat corruption in Sri Lanka require inclusive initiatives led by non-governmental groups, which have faced limitations due to restricted transparency and extensive application of counter-terrorism regulations. The organization stressed that public participation and oversight of governmental actions are increasingly constrained, hindering progress towards inclusive governance.
Highlighting concerns raised by the National Collective of CSOs and NGOs, HRW underscored that the proposed NGO law would violate fundamental rights to freedom of association and expression, jeopardizing essential services provided by civil society organizations.
Referring to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk’s recent update on the crisis in Sri Lanka, HRW echoed concerns regarding new legislation’s potential impact on fundamental rights and freedoms.
HRW urged the IMF to safeguard the credibility of its program in Sri Lanka by publicly urging the government to withdraw the proposed NGO law, impose a moratorium on the Online Safety Act, and amend the Anti-Terrorism Bill to align with human rights standards.
Ganguly emphasized that international partners supporting Sri Lanka’s economic recovery must resist governmental attempts to curtail fundamental civil and political rights for their efforts to be successful.
