^{File photograph: Sri Lankan soldiers in Jaffna.}

Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned that “a state of fear is being re-established in Sri Lanka” as it reiterated calls for an international tribunal for war crimes and urged countries around to world to place sanctions on those accused of committing human rights violations.

In an update released this week, the organisation said that “Sri Lankan security agencies are stepping up surveillance, harassment, and threats against human rights activists and journalists,” after interviewing 15 human rights defenders across the island.

The group highlighted how in the run up to the United Nations Human Rights Council session, which is currently underway in Geneva, Sri Lankan intelligence officials have interrogated activists and victims on their advocacy plans. “We fear that international lobbying and travel to Geneva may not happen in future because of this situation,” one activist said.

Another human rights defender referred to the current situation as "critical" following the election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as president in November 2019. “After the election, military activities including monitoring and inquiries have increased,” the activist said. “They are following us. That is a huge threat for human rights groups.” A third activist said she so constantly feels under surveillance that intelligence officers “might even be in the next seat on the bus.” Since Rajapaks came into office, there has been a rise in harassments and even physical attacks upon journalists by unidentified individuals. Media offices have also faced searches by Sri Lankan officers, with reports that intelligence officers are demanding personal information of the employees.

“Since the return of the Rajapaksas to power, a state of fear is being re-established in Sri Lanka,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at HRW. “The activities of the government’s security apparatus are evident in some violent attacks and public death threats against activists and journalists, but also in equally dangerous actions happening out of sight,” she added.

After Rajapaksa’s election Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry has also expanded the numer of state instititions under its control and launched plans for a new cybersecurity law to further restrict freedom of expression by preventing people from publishing "defamatory posts" on social media. 

Commenting on forward action for the international community, HRW said “members of the Human Rights Council should, as a matter of priority, support a new resolution to establish an international mechanism or tribunal to address past crimes in Sri Lanka.”

^{File photo: Shavendra Silva inspecting Sri Lankan troops}

It also highlighted the recent travel sanctions placed on the head of the Sri Lankan army by the US and said, “other countries, including EU members and the United Kingdom, should follow suit and impose sanctions on him and others credibly accused of serious rights violations and war crimes”.

“Sri Lankans are seeing their civil and political rights being stripped away and replaced by authoritarian structures at a rapid pace,” Ganguly said. “It’s crucial for the UN Human Rights Council to remember the past, respond to the warning signs, and resolutely insist on fundamental human rights principles, including delivering justice to victims.”

See more from HRW here.