Sri Lanka: Security measures violate human rights

This report reviews Sri Lanka’s security legislation from the perspective of the guarantees provided in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). It comments briefly on AI’s current human rights concerns in Sri Lanka and then examines in detail the various emergency regulations pertaining to, inter alia, detention, post mortem and inquest procedures and admissibility as evidence of statements made to the police. It also examines the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. While recognizing that, since the coming to power of the new government, the security forces have so far refrained from resorting to the large-scale violations reported in the past, AI is concerned that certain of these security measures continue to provide a ready context for violations. The report also comments on a number of existing and recently announced measures for the prevention of human rights violations.

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