The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) expressed their concern over Sri Lanka's new Presidential Task Force which is focused on achieving "One Country One Law”, as it may target minority communities on the island.
@ICJ_org is concerned that the newly appointed Presidential Task Force to study the ‘One Country One Law’ concept may end up targeting minority communities in #SriLanka 1/4https://t.co/9AjUrLx6w5
— ICJ - Asia and the Pacific (@ICJ_Asia) October 27, 2021
The organisation expressed their concerns over the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's decision to appoint convicted extremist monk, Galagodaaththe Gnanasara to head the task force and highlighted the lack of representation from the Tamil community and the lack of female members on the taskforce.
"The appointment as Chairperson of a person imprisoned for contempt of court & known to be openly violent and racist calls into question the intent behind these appointments," ICJ tweeted.
Gnanasara was previously found guilty on two counts and sentenced to 6 months in prison for threatening the wife of Prageeth Eknaligoda; a critic of the then government in 2010. He was released from prison following a presidential pardon.
The 13 member taskforce will "study and implement the concept of 'One Country One Law' within Sri Lanka and prepare a draft Act for this purpose" and will "make the becessary amendments as suggested by the Ministry of Justice."
The final report isi to be submitted on February 28, 2020.
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