“Sri Lanka Transforming Into A ‘Crypto Military And Authoritarian State’” Says BASL

July 12, 2014

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has condemned the circular issued by the National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations that has already come under heavy criticisms due to the restrictions it has imposed on civil society groups active in Sri Lanka.

Upul Jayasuriya -BASL President

In a media release issued last night following the Executive Committee meeting, the BASL has asserted the communiqué issued by the Secretariat for NGOs that operates under the purview of the Ministry of Defense, as a ‘gross violation of the fundamental rights of the polity’ and has urged the authorities to revoke the circular immediately.

Pointing out the circular may have far reaching impacts on a free and democratic society; the BASL has stated that it is another extension of Sri Lanka’s transformation into a ‘crypto military and authoritarian state’.

The statement quoting the Global Military Index statistics issued by the Bonn International Center points out that Sri Lanka has been ranked as the most militarised country in the region at 36, following by Pakistan (47) and Afghanistan (58).

The BASL Executive Committee meeting has gone on to say the situation has been further deteriorated due to a regulation imposed under section 12 of the Public Security Ordinances that transferred Police powers to the Army, Navy and Air Forces, covering the entire country.

They state the deteriorating levels of right to dissent, freedom of expression, freedom of association and media freedom in Sri Lanka have been reflected in the Worldwide Governance Indicators in which Sri Lanka’s position has dropped from 0.15 negative in 2002 up to 0.60 negative by 2012.

The following facts were also listed to further underpin their concerns over the shrinking democratic space in Sri Lanka:                                                             Read More