President Rajapaksa meets with UN Secretary General Antony Guterres

Sri Lanka Updates

1. Government Amplifies Prevention Of Terrorism Act In Sri Lanka

2. Under New PTA Regulations, 11 Muslim Groups Banned in Sri Lanka

3. Government Begins Framework For Anti-Conversion Laws

4. Unlawful PTA Allows For Detention Up To 18 Months Without Trial Or Charge In Sri Lanka

5. U.S. Congress Introduces Bipartisan Resolution On Sri Lanka To Seek Justice And Accountability

6. Government Moves Forward With Burqa And Niqab Ban

7. Res 413 Has Been Sent To The U.S House Foreign Affairs Committee

8. European Parliament Threatens To Pull GSP+ Status If PTA Not Repealed

9. UNHRC Chief Says Government Policies Have Targeted Muslims

10. Sri Lankan President Pardons 94, Including Convicted Murderer

11. China’s Oppression Of Muslims Could Be Influencing Srilanka

12. PTA Detainee Hejaaz Hizbullah Has Been Declared A Prisoner Of Conscience

13. Threat Of Intergovernmental Militarization Looms

14. Right To Protest Under Threat As 42 Arrested

15. Rapporteur Says That De-radicalization Regulations Could Lead To Silence Of Those Who Criticize Government

16. Covid Burial Site Already Reaching Capacity As Additional Space Confirmed

17. Opposition Party Accuses President Of Becoming Authoritarian

18. UN Special Rapporteur Says PTA Detainee Hejaaz Hizbullah Has Been Wrongfully Connected To Easter 2019

19. Prison Conditions Poor, Overcrowded; Detainees Tell Stories Of Sexual Assault And Torture

20. President Rajapaksa meets with UN Secretary General Antony Guterres

21. BBS Monk Thero Makes Hateful Comments About Muslims On Television

22. India, China, And Sri Lanka Are Connected In Targeted Oppression

23. Justice Minister Sabry Says PTA Is Unlikely To Ever Be Abolished

On September 20, President Gotabaya met with United Nations Secretary General Antony Guterres in New York City. The President spoke of Covid-19’s effect on Sri Lanka’s economy and education systems. He claimed that in 2009 under his brother Mahinda Rajipaksa’s presidency, that land transfers, victim compensation, and infrastructure had been carried out in the north and east. He said that his government would immediately begin working on the cases of missing persons. Sri Lanka has had an Office of Missing Persons since 2016.

President Rajapaksa claimed that many minors who were arrested for alleged links to terrorism were released when he became president, yet at least 1800 Muslims have been unlawfully detained since spring 2019. He also said that he would not hesitate to pardon, yet he has only pardoned 16 Tamils who were close to release and convicted murderer Duminda Silva.

The President said Sri Lanka’s internal problems should be handled internally. This is perhaps because there have been a number of recent Resolutions aimed at repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act and other human rights abuses. He did say that the UNHRC’s March Resolution was the creation of both foreign and local entities which were unable to see the progression that his government had made.

Articles:

Secretary General assures UN’s fullest positive cooperation to Sri Lanka to move forward promoting racial unity

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