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Author name: suneth gajanayake

UN Experts Raise Concerns Over Sri Lanka’s Draft NGO Bill

News /

Four United Nations Special Rapporteurs have raised concerns with the Government of Sri Lanka over the proposed Non-Governmental Organizations (Registration and Supervision) Bill 2026, warning that several provisions may conflict with freedom of association and international counter-terrorist financing standards. The joint communication, dated 28 September 2026 under reference OL LKA 5/2026, was issued by UN […]

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Beyond the Safety Net: Poverty, the Aswesuma Rollout, and the Path to Sustainable Empowerment (2022–2026)

Articles /

Sri Lanka’s unprecedented economic crisis in 2022 was not just a macroeconomic failure; it was a profound human tragedy that rapidly pushed the national poverty rate to 25%. For decades, the legacy Samurdhi system had served as a fragile safety net, delivering cash transfers to roughly 1.7 million beneficiaries out of a targeted two million.

Beyond the Safety Net: Poverty, the Aswesuma Rollout, and the Path to Sustainable Empowerment (2022–2026) Read More »

We are proud to announce that the Right to Life Human Rights Centre is officially developing the Digital Triage System for Human Rights First Aid!

News /

When severe human rights violations such as police torture, harassment, or unlawful detention occur, the critical window for effective legal intervention often closes within hours. Currently, vulnerable and marginalized communities across Sri Lanka face language barriers, complex legal systems, and a profound fear of reprisal that prevent them from safely seeking justice. We are building

We are proud to announce that the Right to Life Human Rights Centre is officially developing the Digital Triage System for Human Rights First Aid! Read More »

Minister of Justice explains steps taken to reduce prison overcrowding

Articles /

Addressing Parliament today, the Minister of Justice and National Integration, Mr. Harshana Nanayakkara, stated that one of the factors contributing to the severe overcrowding in prisons is the amendment introduced in 2022 to the Poisons, Opium, and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, along with delays in the Government Analyst’s reports. “Before that amendment, if the net weight

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Hunting the Innocent through Legal Loopholes: Stop Fabricated Cases and the Misuse of Section 54 Immediately!

Articles /

​Although eradicating drugs from a country is an essential matter, destroying the lives of innocent citizens by imprisoning them on fabricated charges in the name of drug suppression can in no way be condoned. One of the most serious tragedies we see today is the misuse of the law by certain corrupt police officers to

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Let Us Eradicate Torture in Sri Lanka: The Commemoration of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture and Our Responsibility

Articles /

The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment fell on 26 June. Following a resolution presented to the United Nations General Assembly on 12 December 1997, 26 June has been observed as the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture since 1998. Since 2004,

Let Us Eradicate Torture in Sri Lanka: The Commemoration of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture and Our Responsibility Read More »

Commemorating the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture: A Call for Justice and Unity

Events /

On June 26, 2026, human rights defenders, legal experts, and citizens gathered to observe the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The event brought together voices from the Human Rights First Aid Centre (HRFAC) in Anuradhapura, the Anuradhapura District Citizens’ Committee, and Right to Life (R2L) to shed light on the urgent need

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Right to Life Human Rights Centre Submits Crucial Briefing on Police Torture and Systemic Judicial Failures to UN Subcommittee

Articles, Statements /

Media Statement  COLOMBO, SRI LANKA — June 2026 — The Right to Life Human Rights Centre has formally submitted a comprehensive briefing to the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT). The submission exposes entrenched patterns of police torture, the strategic weaponization of restrictive detention laws, and systemic failures within Sri Lanka’s judicial architecture.

Right to Life Human Rights Centre Submits Crucial Briefing on Police Torture and Systemic Judicial Failures to UN Subcommittee Read More »

19 June: International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict

Articles /

The ‘International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict’, declared by the United Nations, is observed worldwide on 19 June every year. The primary objectives of this day are to condemn the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war or a weapon during periods of armed conflict, to deliver justice to

19 June: International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict Read More »

State Responsibility regarding Child Protection: Recent Incidents, the Rule of Law, and Social Discourse

Articles /

Philip Dissanayake, Executive Director, Right to Life Human Rights Centre Incidents of child abuse cannot be considered merely crimes committed by a few individuals. Rather, they represent a severe weakness in the protection system that must be collectively built by the state, the education system, religious institutions, and communities. As a state signatory to the

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Civil Society Groups Raise Concerns Over the Misuse of FATF Standards in Sri Lanka

Articles /

The Sri Lanka Civil Society FATF Network has released a series of briefing notes examining the relationship between Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards and the regulation of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Sri Lanka. The publication highlights the role of FATF as the global body responsible for setting standards to combat money laundering and

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Repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Which Permits Torture and Repression, and Subverts Justice

News, Statements /

09/06/2026 Media Statement  Alongside the developments following the arrest of former Military Intelligence Chief Major General Suresh Sallay under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, public discussion regarding the legislation has once again emerged. Mr Suresh Sallay is not the only person to be arrested and detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act since the current

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