By Executive Summary
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Freedom of Assembly: The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court issued an order restricting a protest organised by members of the Unemployed Graduates’ Association, following a request from the Officer-in-Charge of the Welikada Police.
A notice was issued banning a ‘Satyagraha’ campaign and protest led by the Unemployed Graduates’ Association between March 17 and 21, targeting several key organisers. Participants were barred from engaging in any protest that blocked roads or inconvenienced the public.
Twenty-seven individuals, including the convener of the Inter-University Students Federation and the Secretary of the Allied Health Sciences Students’ Union, were arrested for holding a protest in defiance of a court order in front of the Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, in Jaffna, a peaceful protest by Allied Health Sciences students demanding solutions for unemployment was forcefully halted by police, who cited election regulations as justification for preventing the march, despite student claims that their rally was non-political.
Further controversy erupted at the University of Jaffna, where Tamil students replaced the Sri Lankan flag with a black one on February 4, marking Sri Lanka’s 77th Independence Day as a mourning day rather than a celebration. The University Grants Commission (UGC) demanded disciplinary action against the students and has sought a detailed report from the university authorities.
Legal Reforms, Amendments and Repressive Laws: The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the tabling in Parliament of the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, a proposal initiated by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as the Minister of Digital Economy.
The government attempts to advance women’s reproductive rights by drafting legal provisions that would allow the termination of pregnancies in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities.
Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne announced in Parliament that a new Cybersecurity Bill will be introduced, granting the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) enhanced powers to enforce cybersecurity standards across websites.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake confirmed that amendments to Sections 41 and 42 of the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance are in preparation to formalise the establishment of the Sangha Council.
The Opposition is preparing to push for a new Constitution. MP Ajith P. Perera announced an adjournment motion calling for immediate steps toward constitutional reform, in line with President Dissanayake’s election manifesto pledge to abolish the Executive Presidency, re-establish a parliamentary system, and create a new electoral system.
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka ruled in case No. SC FR 37/2020, that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had no constitutional authority to issue detention orders under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in early 2020, rendering such orders legally invalid. The Court found that Rajapaksa, who had signed a detention order on February 6, 2020, lacked the power to act as Minister of Defence at the time since the 20th Amendment, which would have permitted such dual authority, had not yet come into effect.
Forcibly Disappeared: Across the North-East, Tamil families of the forcibly disappeared continue to struggle for truth, justice, and accountability. This movement, led largely by women, has now spanned over 15 years since the end of the armed conflict in 2009, with families demanding to know the fate of their loved ones, many of whom vanished after surrendering to Sri Lankan armed forces during the final stages of the Mullivaikkal genocide.
Mass Graves: Concerns have been raised over the lack of protection and proper investigative protocols for mass graves discovered in the Northern Province, warning that neglecting these sites could lead to the destruction of crucial evidence and further injustices. These remarks were made concerning the discovery of human remains in Kokkuthoduvai, Mannar, and most recently at the Semmani site in Jaffna.
Land Encroachment: Tamil parliamentarians have raised urgent concerns over the ongoing encroachment, militarisation, and manipulation of land rights in the North and East, where Tamil communities remain locked in a struggle to reclaim their homes and heritage. The growing trend of using Buddha statues as tools of land appropriation, particularly in Tamil areas like Mullaitivu remains to be a concern.
The long-standing land dispute surrounding the construction of the Tissa Viharaya in Jaffna has intensified. Protests by local landowners, civil activists, and political representatives have been ongoing, particularly on Poya days, challenging what they assert is the illegal construction of this Buddhist temple on Tamil-owned private lands.
Batalanda Commission: The ‘Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Establishment and Maintenance of Places of Unlawful Detention and Torture Chambers at the Batalanda Housing Scheme’ was tabled in Parliament by the House and Transport Minister, Bimal Ratnayake. Minister Ratnayake emphasised that the government has made a policy decision to take necessary action based on the report’s findings. As part of this process, the report has been forwarded to the Attorney General for legal review, and a Presidential Committee has been appointed to offer recommendations on future actions.
Abuse of Power by Police: Deshabandu Tennakoon, suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP), has found himself at the center of a high-profile legal controversy after being implicated in multiple serious charges. Tennakoon, who had been evading arrest for weeks, finally surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court, after a massive nationwide manhunt. Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris strongly opposed bail, describing Tennakoon’s abuse of power during his tenure as IGP and alleged that he used his position for personal gain.
The proposal submitted by the ruling party, National People’s Power (NPP), Parliamentarians seeking the removal of suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon from office has been included in the relevant supplement to the Order Book of Parliament. The motion, submitted to the Speaker on March 25, carries the signatures of 115 MPs and lists 27 charges against Tennakoon.
The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Weligama Police Station has been suspended due to his purported involvement in a shooting incident that occurred outside the W15 Hotel in Weligama, in 2023. The court mandated the arrest of eight individuals, including former officials from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and the former Inspector General of Police, Deshabandu Tennakoon linked to the same incident.
Sanctions Imposed by the UK: The United Kingdom government has recently imposed sanctions on four individuals—three former Sri Lankan military commanders and one former LTTE leader—for their alleged roles in serious human rights violations during the country’s civil war. The sanctions, which include travel bans and asset freezes, are part of the UK’s broader strategy to promote international accountability and prevent impunity for grave abuses. The individuals named are Shavendra Silva, former Head of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces; Wasantha Karannagoda, former Navy Commander; Jagath Jayasuriya, former Army Commander; and Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, also known as Karuna Amman—a former LTTE commander who later led the pro-government Karuna Group. These figures are alleged to have been involved in extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, sexual violence, and the recruitment of child soldiers.
Labour Rights: Minister of Labour, Dr. Anil Jayantha, confirmed in Parliament that the government had already initiated discussions with the International Labour Organisation’s country office and begun preliminary steps to examine the ratification process for Convention No. 190. Dr. Jayantha emphasised the government’s anticipation of collective support from all stakeholders, underscoring the shared responsibility to eliminate workplace violence and harassment and to foster an inclusive and safe work environment for all individuals.
Local Government Elections: The Election Commission of Sri Lanka officially announced that the upcoming Local Government (LG) Elections will be held on May 6, 2025. The acceptance of nominations for 336 Local Government institutions began on March 17 and concluded on March 20.
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