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GENEVA, Jan 22 (2024): UN human rights experts have condemned Sri Lanka’s heavy-handed anti-drug operation, “Yukthiya,” calling for its immediate suspension and urging a shift towards health and human rights-based policies. “Drug users have human rights,” the experts declared, highlighting numerous disturbing practices under Yukthiya, including: Mass arrests: Thousands of alleged offenders, primarily from marginalized communities, have been […]

The ongoing anti-narcotics crackdown in Sri Lanka, resulting in the “arbitrary arrest” of 30,000 suspects, has faced condemnation from the United Nations and various rights organizations. Sri Lankan police initiated the operation Yuktiya (meaning justice in Sinhala) in mid-December, aiming to eliminate the illegal drug trade in the country. However, law enforcement has been accused

In a joint statement released today, a coalition of prominent international organizations expressed profound concern over the intensification of anti-drug operations in Sri Lanka, citing widespread human rights violations and urging the government to immediately cease the controversial “Yukthiya” operation. The statement, signed by organizations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Drug

In a press notice issued today, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka expressed deep concern over the implementation of the ‘Yukthiya’ Operation by the Sri Lanka Police and the Ministry of Public Security. The operation, aimed at combating drug trafficking and organized crime, has come under scrutiny for alleged human rights violations, including torture,

In a joint statement released today, a coalition of civil society organizations in Sri Lanka has expressed reservations about the proposed Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) bill, urging the government to allow more time for thorough discussion and dialogue before its passage into law. The ONUR bill aims to establish an institution dedicated

In a recent gathering organized by Religions for Peace International and its Sri Lankan chapter on December 19, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga emphasized the public’s disinterest in another conflict, attributing the tensions to political manipulation rather than inherent racism among the Sri Lankan people. Kumaratunga asserted that the majority now favors a political solution

The Sri Lanka Collective Against Torture (SLCAT) has issued a resounding call for immediate action following the recent Supreme Court judgment in SCFR 107/2011, underscoring the imperative need to address institutionalized violence within the Sri Lankan Police Department. The statement, released in response to the judgment dated 14th December 2023, highlights grave concerns about the

In a shocking turn of events, legal professionals and academics in Sri Lanka have issued an open letter to the President, urging immediate action following a landmark Supreme Court decision in the case of Sumangala v Bandara and Others (SCFR 107/2011). The three-judge bench unanimously ruled that Respondents, including Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, violated fundamental

To mark International Human Rights Day – 2023, the Right to Life Human Rights Centre launched the quarterly torture monitoring report titled as TRUTH (Targeting Rights: Unraveling Torture’s Harm). The objective of this quarterly newsletter is to monitor the aspect of torture in Sri Lanka and report on the prevalence, measures for prevention, and legal

In an effort to address a critical issue affecting vulnerable populations, an upcoming webinar titled “Screening, Documentation, and Monitoring of Torture in Children” is set to take place on December 6, 2023, at 3 PM CET. The event aims to shed light on the importance of identifying, documenting, and monitoring cases of torture among children.

In a press release issued today, the Right to Life Human Rights Center of Sri Lanka (R2L) has demanded justice for the untimely death of 25-year-old Nagarasa Alex, who reportedly succumbed to injuries inflicted during his custody by the Sri Lankan police. This tragic incident has ignited a fervent call for comprehensive police reform and