Sri Lanka: Civil society statement condemning the abuse of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act to violate the freedom of expression

22nd June, 2023


Sri Lanka: Civil society statement condemning the abuse of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act to violate the freedom of expression

We the undersigned individuals and organisations are deeply concerned by the continuing abuse
of law including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act, No. 56 of
2007 and its selective application to violate the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka. The state has
systematically used the ICCPR law, which was meant to promote and protect human rights, to
silence and punish human rights defenders, political activists, writers, artists, and lawyers. We
strongly condemn the recent arrests of comedian Nathasha Edirsooriya and owner of the SLVlog
YouTube Channel, Bruno Diwakara, under the ICCPR Act without recourse to bail. On 21 June
2023, Divakara was released on bail and the ICCPR Act was removed from the case against him.
Nathasha Edirisooriya was denied bail under the ICCPR and the Penal code, and remains
imprisoned until 05 July 2023.

The ICCPR Act was enacted in 2007 to give effect to the ICCPR, which is a core international
human rights convention, and to signal that Sri Lanka was effectively implementing its obligations
under this treaty. The implementation of the ICCPR Act is a key benchmark with respect to Sri
Lanka’s human rights record both nationally and internationally. The United Nations Human Rights
Committee, the body responsible for monitoring implementation of the ICCPR, in its review of Sri
Lanka in 2023, expressed concern over the abuse of the ICCPR Act “to stifle freedom of
expression, as well as the failure of the authorities to grant bail in a timely manner to individuals
charged under the Act”. The Committee recommended that Sri Lanka “[r]efrain from prosecuting
and imprisoning, including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act,
journalists, media workers, human rights defenders and other civil society actors as a means of
deterring or discouraging them from freely expressing their opinions”. The abuse of this law is
deeply damaging not only to those being targeted and jailed, but also to Sri Lanka’s attempts to
overcome the current political, social, and economic crisis.

Since its enactment, the ICCPR Act has been repeatedly abused to target human rights defenders,
political activists, writers, artists, lawyers, and now comedians. Section 3 (1) of the Act states that
“No person shall propagate war or advocate national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes
incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence”. The provisions of Section 3 are particularly
dangerous, as it empowers the state to arrest and jail those targeted without recourse to bail. Per
Section 3 (4) of the Act, a person arrested under this Act is denied access to bail unless through
the High Court in exceptional circumstances. In September 2019, the Human Rights Commission
of Sri Lanka issued guidelines on the application of the ICCPR Act noting that “the enforcement of
section 3 of the ICCPR Act has not been done in a consistent and an even-handed manner”.
Recent arrests indicate that the Sri Lankan state has paid scant attention to national or
international pressure on its human rights record or use of this law.

The Sri Lankan state continues to weaponise provisions relating to incitement of national, racial, or
religious hatred to stifle the freedom of expression. Its actions have also emboldened chauvinistic
and violent extremist groups to target, label and openly threaten individuals for their expressions.
In Nathasha Edirisooriya’s case, the comedian received serious online threats for days prior to her
arrest on 27 May, 2023. These threats prompted her to attempt to leave the country for her safety.
The threats included revealing her personal data and address, threats of physical violence, and
repeated threats of arrest. Instead of protecting her, the Sri Lankan authorities arrested the
comedian, who remains in jail to date.

We call for an immediate end to the abuse of the ICCPR Act, legal reform and mechanisms to
ensure its proper implementation and prevent abuse. We call for the release of those held under
this law, and that at a minimum, they are provided access to bail while investigations continue.
Ethnic and religious harmony remains a challenge in Sri Lanka, where chauvinistic and violent
extremist groups are empowered to attack, label, and threaten minorities and those who speak out.
Jailing human rights defenders, political activists, artists, writers, lawyers, and comedians, without
basis, will only erode trust in a system that is already beset with multiple crises.
Signatories;
Individuals

  1. A. Ajitha
  2. Ambika Satkunanathan
  3. Amila Dunuwille
  4. Amila Sandaruwan
  5. Angelica Chandrasekeran
  6. Angeline Ondaatjie
  7. Anithra Varia
  8. Anoma Wijesuriya
  9. Anuruddha Bandara – Social & Political Activist
  10. Anuruddika Piyasena
  11. Aruna Paul Simittrarachchi
  12. Asma Edris
  13. B. Gowthaman
  14. B. Sukitha
  15. Bertha Dharmadasa
  16. Bishop Duleep de Chickera
  17. Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe
  18. Brendan Babapulle
  19. Chaminda Dias
  20. Chanaka Karunarathne
  21. Channaka Jayasinghe
  22. Chandrika Gadiewasam – Freelance Journalist
  23. D.M. Dissanayake – AAL
  24. Damith Chandimal – Human Rights Activist
  25. Deanne Uyangoda
  26. Denver Peterson – Activist
  27. Deshamanya Godfrey Yogarajah
  28. Dilani Ubayasiri
  29. Dr. Farah Mihlar
  30. Dr. Mareena Thaha Reffai
  31. Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
  32. Dr. Ranil D. Guneratne
  33. Dr. Sakuntala Kadirgamar
  34. Dr. Sanjana Hattotuwa
  35. Dr. Shermal Wijewardene
  36. F. Zackariya
  37. Fathima Nabeela Iqbal
  38. Fuzly Mohamed
  39. Gamini Akmeemana
  40. Geethika Dharmasinghe
  41. Gehan Gunatilleke – AAL
  42. Gregory Wise
  43. Hilmy Ahamed
  44. Hussain Shamil
  45. Ian Ferdinands
  46. Iranthi Abeyasinghe
  47. Ishan Jalill – Ability for Action
  48. J.K.H.S.L. Perera
  49. J. Thayalini
  50. J. Varayalini
  51. Janaki Fernandopulle
  52. Jansila Majeed
  53. Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala
  54. Jehanki Anandha
  55. Jemima Ahmad
  56. Jenat Silva
  57. Joanne Senn
  58. K.G.R. Dilshan
  59. K. Hemalatha
  60. K. Saththiyaseelan
  61. Kaushalya Ariyarathne
  62. Lakshman Gunasekara – South Asian Free Media Association – Sri Lanka Chapter
  63. M. Nirmalathevi
  64. Madhubhashini R. Rathnayaka
  65. Manjula Gajanayake
  66. Mario Gomez
  67. Marisa de Silva
  68. Marisa Fernando
  69. Melani Gunathilaka
  70. Melani Manel Perera – Journalist
  71. N. Arththigan
  72. N. Krishnakumar
  73. Nagulan Nesiah
  74. Neranjan Maddumage
  75. Nilshan Fonseka
  76. Niran Wirasinha
  77. Nirasha Fernando
  78. Nishan de Mel – Economist
  79. Parakrama Bokalawela
  80. Pasan Jayasinghe
  81. Pathum Egodawatta
  82. Philip Dissanayake
  83. Premila Naguleswaran
  84. Prof. Arjuna Parakrama – University of Peradeniya
  85. Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda
  86. Prof. Sumathy Sivamohan – University of Peradeniya
  87. Pujitha Ubayasiri
  88. R. Kounthini
  89. R. Ranjan – AAL
  90. R. Robinson
  91. R. Saththiya
  92. Rajany Rajeshwary
  93. Rajkumar Rajeevkanth
  94. Ramya Kumar – University of Jaffna
  95. Ranmali de Zoysa
  96. Rev. Andrew Devadason
  97. Rev. Dr. Jayasiri T. Peiris
  98. Rev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos
  99. Rev. Fr. Nandana Saparamadu – Catholic Diocese of Colombo
  100. Rev. Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda
  101. Rev. Sr. Nichola Emmanuel
  102. Rev. Sr. Noel Christine Fernando
  103. Rohana Hettiarachchi
  104. Ruki Fernando
  105. Rushani Wise
  106. Ruwanthie de Chickera – Artist
  107. Ryan Silva
  108. S.C.C. Elankovan – Lawyer and Development Consultant
  109. S. Easwary
  110. S. Ethayarani
  111. S. Kopika
  112. S. Mariyarosalin
  113. S. Niththika
  114. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole – Former Member, Election Commission of Sri Lanka
  115. S. Suganthi
  116. S. Tharsan
  117. S. Thileepan
  118. Sabra Zahid
  119. Sabrina Symons
  120. Sakuna Gamage
  121. Saman Seneviratne
  122. Sandun Thudugala
  123. Sandya Salgado
  124. Sanjee Goonetilake
  125. Sankha Ranadheera
  126. Sarah Arumugam
  127. Sarath Ratwatte
  128. Senel Wanniarachchi
  129. Serena Burgess
  130. Setunga Mudalige
  131. Shamala Kumar – University of Peradeniya
  132. Shamalee de Silva
  133. Sharmini Ratwatte
  134. Sheila Richards
  135. Shreen Saroor
  136. Siritunga Jayasuriya
  137. Sitralega M. – Independent Feminist Researcher, Batticaloa
  138. Soraya M. Deen – Lawyer & Community Organizer
  139. Srinath Perera – AAL
  140. Suchith Abeyewickreme – Civil Society Activist
  141. Sunanda Deshapriya – Journalist, Writer and Human Rights Activist
  142. Suren D. Perera – AAL
  143. Swasthika Arulingam
  144. Tharindu Jayawardhana
  145. Tharindu Uduwaragedara
  146. Thasneema Dahlan
  147. Themal Ellawala – Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois, Chicago
  148. Thiagi Piyadasa – AAL
  149. Thilina Madiwala
  150. Thyagi Ruwanathirana
  151. Tisaranee Gunasekara
  152. V. Shamini
  153. Ven. Fr. Samuel J. Ponniah
  154. Vidarshana Kannangara
  155. Vinuk Ubayasiri
  156. Vraie Cally Balthazaar
    Organisations
  157. Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)
  158. Community Welfare and Development Fund (CWDF)
  159. Forum for A Plural Democracy
  160. Hashtag Generation
  161. Human Rights Office (HRO), Kandy
  162. Institute for Democratic Reforms & Electoral Studies (IRES)
  163. International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES)
  164. Joint Teacher’s Service Union
  165. Law and Society Trust (LST)
  166. Liberation Movement
  167. Mass Movement for Social Justice (MMSJ), Colombo
  168. Mediall.com Network
  169. Muslim Women’s Research & Action Forum
  170. National Peace Council (NPC)
  171. North South Solidarity
  172. Right to Life Human Rights Centre
  173. Search for Common Ground
  174. Sisterhood Initiative
  175. Solidarity Movement for North and East People’s Struggle
  176. The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (SLMC)
  177. Vallamai Movement for Social Change
  178. Voice of the Plantation People Organization
  179. Women’s Action Network (WAN)
  180. Women for Justice and Peace in Sri Lanka
  181. Young Journalists Association (YJA)

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