SLPP’s Milinda Rajapaksa, representing a civil society organisation, has raised concerns over what he described as growing threats to individual liberty, the rule of law and institutional checks and balances in Sri Lanka during an intervention at the UN Human Rights Council.
Addressing the Council, Rajapaksa alleged that political victimisation and selective prosecution were evident through arrests of opposition figures, citing the recent arrest of SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa.
He also referred to the continued detention of former State Intelligence Service Director Suresh Sallay, raising concerns over judicial oversight and due process.
Rajapaksa further highlighted prison overcrowding and recent fatal unrest in prisons, arguing that prolonged and arbitrary detention practices were worsening conditions faced by inmates.
He also raised concerns over the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, particularly provisions relating to the retirement ages of sitting judges. Rajapaksa claimed the changes could undermine judicial independence and referred to concerns he said had been raised by legal and international bodies.
The intervention also criticised proposed amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act, claiming provisions relating to bail could result in prolonged pre-trial detention.
Rajapaksa warned that the cumulative effect of these developments could threaten dissent and freedom of expression, particularly affecting journalists operating through social media.
He called on the UN Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to maintain active oversight over developments in Sri Lanka. (Newswire)
Milinda Rajapaksa, representing a civil society organisation, raised concerns over Sri Lanka’s human rights and rule-of-law situation at the UN Human Rights Council, citing the arrest of MP Namal Rajapaksa, the detention of former SIS Director Suresh Sallay, prison overcrowding,… pic.twitter.com/nVgL5Go9yg
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