People’s Rights Group (PRG), a rights-based advocacy and lobbying group based in the UK particularly dealing with human rights violations in Sri Lanka, takes note of the strong mandate received by the National People’s Power (NPP) at both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2024 in Sri Lanka. It reflected a major political shift arising from the People’s movement in 2022, based on rejection of the economic mismanagement, authoritarianism, divisiveness and corruption of the previous regimes particularly in Post War Sri Lanka. The change of government has also opened up the possibility of tackling widespread violations of economic, civil, social and cultural rights, on a serious note, beyond lip service, judging by the commitment to this task afforded in the NPP Manifesto.

PRG views with optimism the commitment of the government to use its strong mandate for progressive change, to ensure transparency, accountability and inclusive governance. PRG, as an organization fighting against racism and bigotry, welcomes the pledge HE Anura Kumara Dissanayake has made to uphold human rights and to ensure racism-free governance. While being aware of the challenges in its implementation PGR emphasizes it is the need of the hour, to create an inclusive environment where  Sri Lankans of all ethnic and religious communities can live without feeling discriminated, enjoying equal rights –  a ‘privilege’ denied to many particularly in the minority communities, in the wake of political racism and institutional Islamophobia which are still evident within the State establishment and machinery.

PRG notes that the NPP Government faces a daunting list of human rights issues, including impunity, toxic laws, and institutional discrimination against minority communities, which has long divided the country. In this context it is felt that amongst modest progress, there have also been some disappointments too. President Dissanayake pledged to repeal the PTA, in addition to removing abusive provisions of the Online Safety Act, establish an independent Directorate of Public Prosecutions separate from the attorney general’s office, aggressively combat corruption, and revise economic policies to promote equity. However, it is unfortunate to note the ongoing use of the widely discredited Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which seeks to target perceived opponents and minority communities without credible evidence to support the allegations despite repeated pledges to end the practice. While some victims have suffered years of arbitrary detention and torture, others are persecuted even after the case against them is dropped. Muslim detainees held and still being held since the Easter bombing is a case in point. PRG wishes to stress on the need to abolish this draconian law.

NPP government also promised to bring justice to the victims of the Easter Sunday bombings and other emblematic crimes, such as the Lasantha Wickramatunge and Thajudeen murders. It also undertook to reverse the failures of previous administrations to address severe human rights violations committed during the last stages of the war between the government forces and the LTTE.  It is imperative the new government should live up to its commitments for reform, by prioritising to complete crime investigations speedily and address the entrenched impunity surrounding decades of grave violations, corruption and financial mismanagement. It is also equally important to start the process of instituting constitutional reforms, including incorporating much needed social rights too, as fundamental rights in the Constitution.

PRG also wishes to draw the attention of the NPP Government to pay more attention to ethnic representation in governance. It is disappointing to note the woeful lack of Muslim representation including in the Cabinet, a first time since 1948, setting an unhealthy precedent for the future, which does not resonate with the NPP manifesto proposals on inclusive governance. This is yet another area which the government should pay attention to.

PRG therefore calls upon President Dissanayake and his new government to deliver on their promises on inclusive governance and long-sought-after reforms, including mid-course corrections to set a new course for human rights-friendly political culture in Sri Lanka.