The state of civic space in Sri Lanka is rated as ‘repressed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor . Ongoing concerns include restrictions and disruption of peaceful protests - at times with excessive use of force - and the stifling of journalists. Civil society groups are closely monitored by intelligence services, particularly in the north and east. Activists have also been targeted and criminalised using defamation and counter-terror laws, and there has been a systematic failure to address past crimes during the civil war.
A UN Human Rights report published in September 2026 called on the government to build on the steps it has taken to bolster accountability for human rights violations. The report, which covers the period between October 2025 and July 2026, found that “there has been no recognition or accountability for crimes under international law, gross human rights violations, and serious violations of international humanitarian law” during the war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which ended in 2009. Civil society actors, activists and journalists are subjected to state surveillance. It also highlights continued cases of torture and deaths in custody.
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) undertook a study on the human rights situation in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Among the issues highlighted in the report were enforced disappearances, mass graves, memorialisation, militarisation, surveillance and intimidation.
In recent months, both the UN and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka issued reports on surveillance, intimidation and harassment of activists and journalists. A new draft of a counterterrorism bill retains abusive powers while there are concerns around the Organised Crimes Bill and NGO regulation bill. There has been a hate campaign targeting activists Sandya Ekneligoda, a student was arrested for criticising the government and six were arrested at a cost-of-living protest. There were reports of disruption of protests and removal of memorials in the North.
According to a UN report from September 2026, there is a clear and continuing pattern of state surveillance, intimidation and reprisals by military and civilian intelligence officials, including from the Criminal Investigations Department or the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) against civil society actors, activists and journalists for their human rights, humanitarian, and advocacy work.
Individuals are repeatedly questioned about their travels, especially to Geneva and engagement with UN human rights processes, as well as their organisational affiliations, funding sources, and participation in protests or commemorative events.
Organisations and individuals involved in human rights activities, memorialisation of the conflict, and issues affecting the Tamil community in the Northern and Eastern provinces have faced surveillance, intimidation and threats, ranging from explicit death threats and warnings of disappearance or fabricated criminal charges. Such actions are often accompanied by visits to homes, coercive questioning, and, in some cases, attempts to discredit activists.
While there is increased space for memorial events, they are often closely monitored, restricted or disrupted, with authorities photographing participants and pressuring organisers.
Civil society organisations more broadly faced excessive interference with their exercise of the right to freedom of association through unannounced visits, scrutiny of finances, and collection of staff data, while some activists, journalists and religious leaders were subjected to questioning, threats, and reputational attacks.
#SriLanka’s Human Rights Commission flags enduring militarisation in Tamil-majority areas 17 years after civil war ended, militarisation remains a persistent feature of governance and land use in the north & east, says @HRCSL report https://t.co/g5djLu1v2P via @the_hindu
A report by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) on the North and East, published in October 2026, found that security forces continue to subject victims’ families, civil society actors, and journalists to sustained surveillance, intimidation, and harassment, particularly around activities involving protests, commemorations, and demands for truth and justice. Security forces routinely monitor planned protests and adopt preemptive strategies to disrupt them. Organisers are threatened, and participants are intercepted before reaching protest locations.
Civil society initiatives are also monitored. Activists and relatives of the disappeared report frequent phone calls from intelligence officers prior to meetings, inquiring about locations, attendees, and agendas. This ongoing scrutiny appears to have discouraged many organisations from holding public or visible events.
In the North and East of Sri Lanka, memorial expressions by the people have to date been suppressed through both state action and omission, occurring before, during, and after memorialisation activities. While a range of memorial expressions have been disrupted, the majority of suppression activity has focused on preventing events commemorating Maaveerar Day held annually on 27th November in remembrance of Tamil combatants who lost their lives during the civil war, and the death anniversary of Thileepan, a political wing leader of the LTTE who died following a hunger strike from 15th to 26th September 1987.
Since gaining independence, Sri Lankans have witnessed power shift from one government to the next, yet the fundamental rules governing this power remain unchanged. For decades, the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) has been the preferred tool used by various governments whenever they feel they are losing control. This pattern has been consistent: using these laws to imprison political opponents, detain journalists for critical reporting, suppress trade union strikes, and silence student activists demanding accountability. When the current National People's Power (NPP) government came into office, one of their significant promises was to repeal oppressive legislation like the PTA. However, they have consistently failed to fulfil this promise and have even taken a step backwards by proposing a new law, the Protection of State Security Act (PSTA). Despite some minor adjustments, this new bill does not adequately address many of the PTA's problematic aspects. It reintroduces vague definitions that can easily turn a simple protest or minor incident into a severe security offence. This is concerning, as there is a history in Sri Lanka of institutions like the police weaponising laws such as the ICCPR and PTA to settle personal scores or make a point. Laws are intended to address specific issues, not serve as a 'catch-all' net to intimidate the public. Ensuring the safety of a country does not require stripping away the basic rights of its citizens. True stability arises from clear, fair, and accountable governance. Images by Chathuranga M Pradeep
The latest attempt to replace its abusive Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) retains numerous provisions that have enabled serious human rights violations.
According to Human Rights Watch , the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTB), which will be sent to Parliament on 6th October 2026, includes an overbroad definition of terrorism, inadequate judicial oversight, sweeping powers of search and arrest for the armed forces, and executive authority to curtail freedom of speech, assembly, association, and movement.
The draft law includes broad and vague definitions of terrorism and could undermine the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The definition of terrorism problematically includes “unduly compelling a government or an international organisation to do or to abstain from doing any act.”
The latest bill provides broad authority to Sri Lanka’s police, armed forces, and coast guard with “reasonable suspicion” to stop, search, question, enter premises, and take suspects into custody without a warrant.
It also enables the inspector general of police or a deputy inspector general of police to obtain an order from the defence secretary to detain a suspect for two months, which can be extended for up to a year.
Finally, the proposed law grants sweeping government authority to curtail freedom of movement and association, including for the president to proscribe organisations without judicial oversight. The defence secretary is empowered to designate anywhere a “prohibited place,” while a deputy inspector general of police can obtain a court order to restrict an individual’s movement and communications for up to three months. Such broad powers with limited or no judicial oversight would have a chilling effect on free speech, association, assembly, and movement.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has warned in a legal assessment dated 13th October that the bill reproduces and expands many of the failings of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
22 Special Determination petitions challenging the constitutionality of the bill are scheduled to be heard before the Supreme Court.
The Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill , gazetted in early October 2026, sets out broad definitions of an “organised criminal group” and a “serious crime” The proposed legislation also empowers the Secretary of the Ministry in charge of the Police to order the detention of a suspect for up to one year.
Under the proposed law, anyone convicted by a High Court of being a member of an organised criminal group for the purpose of committing a serious crime could face a prison sentence of five to 20 years and a fine of up to Rs. 1 million (USD 3020).
The proposed legislation also authorises the Secretary of the Ministry in charge of the Police, currently the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, to issue detention orders for periods of two months at a time. These orders may be extended, subject to a maximum detention period of one year.
The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) strongly criticised the proposed legislation, describing it as being “framed in broad, vague and sweeping language” with “few, if any, meaningful safeguards.”. It further stated that the Bill “rolls back hard-won protections in the ordinary criminal law.” It also warned that the proposed legislation “creates a parallel regime of arrest and detention that has the potential to entrench torture and severely curtail fundamental rights.”
Former President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka Saliya Pieris warned that the organised crime prevention bill would allow confessions made before police officers above the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to be admitted as evidence in court. He also raised concerns that the proposed organised crime legislation would allow bail to be granted only by the High Court and that the bill also contained a provision allowing courts to infer membership of an organised criminal group based on a person’s hairstyle, tattoos or clothing.
The N in NGO stands for NON-governmental. SLC opposes Sri Lanka’s proposed updates to the NGO Bill 2026, which would require NGOs to “align with the policies of the Government”. Freedom of association is a fundamental right: people must be able to form, join and participate in groups without undue government interference. This Bill risks undermining that freedom through mandatory registration, intrusive monitoring, vague restrictions and broad powers to suspend NGOs. Sri Lanka needs independent civil society - not government-approved civil society.
Four UN Special Rapporteurs have raised concerns over Sri Lanka’s proposed Non-governmental Organisations (Registration and Supervision) Bill 2026, warning that several provisions could restrict freedom of association and civic space.
The experts said the latest version of the Bill, published in June 2026, could impose extensive registration, reporting and monitoring requirements on NGOs and other civil society groups.
Under the proposed legislation, NGOs would be required to register with a Competent Authority, with registration valid for three years. Operating without registration could constitute an offence, with fines of up to Rs. 1 million (USD 3020). The Bill would also give the authority powers to access records, obtain information on staff and funding, and inspect NGO premises with prior notice.
The experts expressed particular concern over provisions requiring NGOs to align with government policies and allowing suspension or deregistration on grounds including activities considered a threat to national security, sovereignty or territorial integrity. They also questioned restrictions on political advocacy, crowdfunding and access to funding, saying some provisions were broad or vague and could have a “chilling effect” on dissent and human rights advocacy.
At the time of writing, the CIVICUS Monitor was informed that a civil society committee is negotiating with the NGO secretariat about amendments to draft. Further, the government has agreed to publish an amended draft in local languages to seek public feedback.
A coalition of six Sri Lankan media organisations has strongly condemned what it described as a campaign of hate speech, insults and incitement to violence targeting Sandya Ekneligoda following the reimprisonment of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera. https://t.co/71d12qjWkK
A coalition of six media organisations strongly condemned what it described as a campaign of hate speech, insults and incitement to violence targeting human rights defender Sandya Ekneligoda following the reimprisonment of prominent Buddhist nationalist monk Galagodatte Gnanasara Thera.
In a joint statement issued on 12th October 2026, the organisations warned that the campaign could endanger Ekneligoda’s safety and further fuel a culture of hatred in the country.
The organisations said Ekneligoda had been seeking truth and justice for more than 16 years over the disappearance of her husband, journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, and should not face threats over decisions made through a lawful judicial process.
Gnanasara Thera was sentenced to six years of rigorous imprisonment in August 2018 after being convicted of contempt of court in connection with threatening Ekneligoda outside the court building in 2016 during proceedings relating to Prageeth Ekneligoda’s disappearance. Although he was released under a presidential pardon in May 2019, the Supreme Court in October 2026 subsequently invalidated the pardon , resulting in his return to prison.
On 13th October 2026, the Kobeigane police arrested a university undergraduate on suspicion of resorting to hate speech on his Facebook account, criticising the President, the Prime Minister and the government.
The suspect is a 21-year-old resident of the Kobeigane area who is studying at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Ruhuna. Speaking to media, a senior police officer said that the arrest was made against the backdrop of a NPP public rally held in Nikaweratiya on 11th October with the attendance of the President.
Six arrested at cost-of-living protest produced before court Read more: https://t.co/O5r8zqgVgK #lka #srilanka #adaderana #news #lanka #SriLankaNews #SriLanka https://t.co/tNirCDqoeB
On 3rd October 2026, six individuals were arrested while being part of a protest organised by the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) and the People’s Struggle Movement.
The protest march was organised in opposition to the government’s tax policies and the rising cost of living. Protesters convened near Campbell Place in Borella. The protesters marched from the Borella Junction through Maradana and proceeded to the area in front of the Colombo Central Bus Stand in Pettah, where they held a demonstration.
The six were arrested while the protest was under way on allegations of participating in an unlawful public gathering and using loudspeakers without obtaining the required permits. They were brought before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court the following day.
🚨Sri Lankan police remove Families of the Disappeared from Jaffna protest The Sri Lankan police forcibly intervened as protesters attempted to display their banner outside the District Secretariat. The protest was organised by the Association of the Relatives of the Enforced Disappeared in the North and East, as the OMP held its event inside the District Secretariat auditorium. The event, was attended by Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister and Jaffna District Coordinating Committee chairman Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Northern Province Governor Nagalingam Vedanayagan, several NPP parliamentarians and OMP chairman Mahesh Katulanda. Protesters rejected compensation and death certificates offered through the OMP, insisting that such measures could not substitute for answers concerning their missing relatives. They called instead for the fate of those who had been surrendered to the military to be established, while condemning what they termed the OMP’s “deception”.
On 26th August 2026, police officers forcefully dragged away Tamil families of the disappeared who were protesting outside an event organised by the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) to mark the upcoming International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
Families of the disappeared in the North-East have expressed that they lack confidence in the OMP as it has failed to provide answers to the families about the fate of their forcibly disappeared relatives. The protest was organised by the Association of the Relatives of the Enforced Disappeared in the North and East, as the OMP held its commemoration inside the District Secretariat auditorium.
Tensions escalated when protesters attempted to display their banner outside the District Secretariat. The police prevented them from opening the banner and dragged it away, while access to the Secretariat was also restricted, with the gate closed and members of the public prevented from entering the premises.
On 18th September 2026, police officers seized speakers at Lt. Col. Thileepan's memorial in Nallur, Jaffna, where he fasted to death in 1987 making demands of the Indian government to honour pledges made to the Tamil people. Tamils were gathering at the memorial site when police arrived and confiscated the speakers, claiming that the speakers were not authorised for use. Meanwhile, a plain-clothes officer remained seated inside the police vehicle and video recorded those present at the memorial site.
On 26th September 2026, police removed a statue of Lt. Col. Thileepan from his memorial in Nallur, Jaffna, just a day after the communities commemorated 39 years since his fast unto death. Over 20 police personnel, including Jaffna's Officer in Charge (OIC), arrived in the early hours of the morning and swiftly removed the statue.
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