By The Pulseline News Desk
Concerns over the state of individual liberty, judicial independence and institutional checks and balances in Sri Lanka have been raised before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), with SLPP-linked representative Milinda Rajapaksha warning that a series of recent developments could have wider implications for democracy and dissent.
Speaking during an intervention at the UNHRC, Rajapaksha, who addressed the session representing a civil society organisation, alleged that political victimisation and selective prosecution were becoming increasingly visible in Sri Lanka.
He cited the arrest of SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa as an example, arguing that the detention of opposition figures raised questions about whether law enforcement was being applied consistently across the political spectrum.
Rajapaksha also referred to the continued detention of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Suresh Sallay, raising concerns over judicial oversight, due process and the circumstances surrounding prolonged detention.
His intervention placed particular emphasis on Sri Lanka’s prison system, where overcrowding and delays in legal proceedings have emerged as continuing concerns.
Rajapaksha pointed to recent fatal unrest in prisons and argued that prolonged and arbitrary detention practices were contributing to deteriorating conditions for inmates.
The SLPP representative also turned to the Government’s proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, particularly provisions concerning the retirement age of serving judges.
He argued that changes affecting the tenure of sitting judges could have implications for judicial independence, while referring to concerns he said had already been raised by legal and international bodies.
The proposed constitutional changes have become a politically sensitive issue, with the Government maintaining its position on judicial and institutional reforms while sections of the legal community have questioned whether alterations to judges’ retirement arrangements could affect the independence of the judiciary.
Rajapaksha further criticised proposed amendments to Sri Lanka’s Anti-Corruption Act, particularly provisions concerning bail.
He claimed that the proposed changes could potentially result in suspects spending extended periods in pre-trial detention, raising broader concerns about the presumption of innocence and access to justice.
Beyond individual cases and proposed legislation, Rajapaksha warned that the cumulative impact of these developments could create a more restrictive environment for political dissent and freedom of expression.
He specifically raised concerns over journalists and other individuals using social media, arguing that the changing legal and political environment could have a chilling effect on critical voices.
The intervention comes as Sri Lanka continues to face international scrutiny over its human rights record, while the Government seeks to demonstrate progress on accountability, governance and institutional reform following the country’s economic and political crises.
Rajapaksha called on the UNHRC and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to maintain active oversight of developments in Sri Lanka.
He urged continued international attention to the country’s legal and institutional reforms, particularly where they could have implications for judicial independence, due process, political freedoms and freedom of expression.
The remarks are likely to add another layer to the ongoing domestic debate over the Government’s proposed constitutional and legal reforms, as the Opposition continues to question whether measures presented as institutional reforms could instead weaken checks and balances on executive and political power.
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