Right To Life Human Rights Center
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed retired Supreme Court Judge Vijith Malalgoda as the new Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL). According to the President’s Media Division, four other members have also been appointed to the Commission: S.Y.M. Gomes, A.L.A. Azeez, Dr. S.S.S.B.D.H. Jayawardena, and Professor T. Jayasingam. The letters of […]
The Right to Life Human Rights Centre (R2L) has initiated legal action before the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, challenging the constitutionality of the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill, raising serious concerns over its potential impact on fundamental rights, democratic freedoms, and the rule of law. The petition, filed on 16
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has called on the Sri Lankan Government to substantially revise the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism (PSTA) Bill, warning that several provisions could perpetuate serious human rights violations associated with the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). In its preliminary observations
UN Human Rights Office Urges Major Revisions to Sri Lanka’s Proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill Read More »
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
UN Experts Raise Concerns Over Sri Lanka’s Draft NGO Bill Read More »
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.
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
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
Minister of Justice explains steps taken to reduce prison overcrowding Read More »
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
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,
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
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.
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 »