OCHRC concerned over two draft laws in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed concerns over the amended Anti-Terrorism Bill and the Online Security Bill.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani has expressed serious concerns over the Sri Lanka's Anti-Terrorism Bill and the Online Safety Bill, which give the authorities a range of expansive powers and can impose restrictions on human rights, not in line with international human rights law.

In a statement, Shamdasani said that restrictions to the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are very likely.

She said that the Anti-Terrorism Bill still includes an overly broad definition of terrorism and grants wide powers to the police - and to the military - to stop, question and search, and to arrest and detain people, with inadequate judicial oversight.

According to the statement, many sections of the Online Safety Bill contain vaguely-defined terms and definitions of offences, creating an environment that has a chilling effect on freedom of expression.