A protest march and demonstration was held in Batticaloa on Monday (22), calling for the repeal of the the Anti-Terrorism Bill and Online Safety Bill, adding both repressive laws hinder the freedom of expression and assembly.

UN experts who are part of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council have expressed alarm at the heavy security-driven approach of Sri Lanka’s anti-narcotics operation which has seen tens of thousands of people arrested do far.

In a statement released on the UNOHCHR website, the experts called on Sri Lankan authorities to immediately suspend and review the so-called Operation ‘Yukthiya’ and to focus on policies based on health and human rights.

Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister, Tiran Alles has vowed to continue the controversial “Yukthiya” Operation adding that they "will not stop based on anyone’s statement", after coming under criticism from the UN human rights c

Addressing a gathering of media and newly appointed members to community police committees, Alles cautioned that there “was a gang of people who are envious and working against the interest of this country.”

Sri Lanka's Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon has called on the "community police committees" to spy on residents in their local villages and collect information  to prevent "extremism" and "terrorism", claiming that it is part of their effort to safeguard the country’s national security. 

“To prevent such unfortunate incidents (attacks on Easter Sunday), the community police committee in every Grama Niladhari's main duty is to collect information about people residing in your area,” he told a gathering of newly appointed community police members in Avisawella. “This committee should visit each household in their respective village.The  printed Police form 76 has the details in all three languages.”

International Commission of Jurists (ICJ),  in a statement issued recently, said a bill gazetted by Sri Lanka to establish a Commission for Truth, Unity, and Reconciliation, "lacks credibility and is unlikely to bring accountability". The ICJ cited it is concerned the lack of consultation with victim communities and the continued neglect of their long-standing demands deprives the bill of its legitimacy. 

Addressing the 19^th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Kampala, Uganda, Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe claimed to support South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the ICJ and to support Palestinians rights to self-determination.

A recent government audit based on data collected between 2015-2022 notes that the prison capacity has been exceeded by 232%.

The report is based on data collected between 2015 and 2022. It is noted that the number of inmates in the overall prison system in Sri Lanka increased from 139% to 232% of the capacity of the prisons. 

Sri Lanka's Justice Minister Vijayadasa Rajapaksa sparked outrage and demands for transparency with a recent assertion that only 14 Tamil political prisoners are currently incarcerated in Sri Lankan jails. 

Local Tamils in Muillaitivu have blocked attempts by the Survey Department of Sri Lanka to allegedly grab land in which the Mullaitivu Thuyilum Illam is situated, a site holding cultural and emotional significance as the resting place for fallen LTTE cadres.