The Asian Human Rights Commission condemned the Sri Lankan government's proposed NGO law, stating that the "Ministry of Defence should not have any power over the functioning of any civil society organisations".
In a statement released today, the AHRC said "the Ministry of Defence stands for impunity, and NGOs, by definition, are committed to ensuring accountability and opposing impunity."
"The Ministry’s commitment to preserving impunity does not need much illustration. It has a horrendous record of using violence against citizens. This includes killings, kidnappings, forced disappearances, and violent attacks against any demonstrators. In all such serious violations of law, the Ministry has protected the perpetrators of violence. In fact, there is overwhelming public opinion within Sri Lanka that the Ministry masterminds these operations," the statement continued.
See full statement here.
Last week, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence has sent letters to non-governmental organisation, demanding that they refrain from activities beyond their mandate, including press conferences, workshops, training for journalists, and the publication of press releases.
The restrictions are to be enshrined in a new law currently being drafted the government announced earlier this week. The government has also warned it would close all bank accounts of NGOs no registered with the Ministry of Defence.
Expressing concern over the move, the US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki urged the Sri Lankan government "to allow civil society organizations and NGOs, which play a vital role in supporting Sri Lanka’s democratic values, to operate freely."
In a statement released today, the AHRC said "the Ministry of Defence stands for impunity, and NGOs, by definition, are committed to ensuring accountability and opposing impunity."
"The Ministry’s commitment to preserving impunity does not need much illustration. It has a horrendous record of using violence against citizens. This includes killings, kidnappings, forced disappearances, and violent attacks against any demonstrators. In all such serious violations of law, the Ministry has protected the perpetrators of violence. In fact, there is overwhelming public opinion within Sri Lanka that the Ministry masterminds these operations," the statement continued.
See full statement here.
Last week, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence has sent letters to non-governmental organisation, demanding that they refrain from activities beyond their mandate, including press conferences, workshops, training for journalists, and the publication of press releases.
The restrictions are to be enshrined in a new law currently being drafted the government announced earlier this week. The government has also warned it would close all bank accounts of NGOs no registered with the Ministry of Defence.
Expressing concern over the move, the US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki urged the Sri Lankan government "to allow civil society organizations and NGOs, which play a vital role in supporting Sri Lanka’s democratic values, to operate freely."