Wasantha Mudalige, Convenor of IUSF, Galwewa Siridhamma thero, Convenor of the Inter-University Bhikkhu Federation, and Hashan Jeewantha, a student activist, were among the 20 arrested on August 18, 2022, for participating in a peaceful protest led by the student movement. All three of them are prominent student leaders who have been at the forefront of struggles for socio-economic justice in Sri Lanka, particularly against numerous ongoing attempts to dismantle free education.

The Sri Lankan Police has failed to adhere to legal due process safeguards concerning all arrests made after May 09^th 2022. In addition to 3500+ arbitrary arrests and detentions after May 09^th, the government has started to charge student protestors under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). After keeping Wasantha Mudalige, Galwewa Siridhamma thero and Hashan Jeewantha in illegal custody for 92 hours after being arrested on August 18, the Police went ahead to detain them for 90 days under provisions made under PTA. This is an arbitrary and illegal practice. It is also a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of these activist students and amounts to enforced disappearances for the reason that their whereabouts and the status of their well-being are unknown.

The threat of detention and charges under the PTA will effectively limit their political activism and their important contribution to calling for a system change in Sri Lanka. It continues the dangerous practice adopted by successive governments against citizens who have a different view, who are critical, who legitimately air grievances and exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights of free speech including right to protest, peaceful assembly and citizen participation in governance.

Successive governments have weaponised colonial anti-terror laws (public security ordinance, PTA, hate speech provisions of the ICCPR act) to suppress Tamil and Muslim minority communities and dissidents of the governments’ anti-democratic behaviour. Civil society activists, journalists, doctors and students, almost always of minority origin, were arrested and detained for months without being afforded due process. The PTA was also used to strike terror in the Muslim communities after the Easter Sunday Attacks in 2019. Many of those arrested under the PTA experience torture for confessions and languish in prisons without a fair opportunity to defend themselves.

International human rights actors and organisations have condemned the PTA which has become a whip to control the Sri Lankan population. Repeal of the PTA drew international support from human rights lobbies and has been insisted as a precondition to renewing the GSP+ trade benefits with the European Union. In response, successive governments have explored different mechanisms to retain the PTA. In 2018, an equally repressive Counter Terrorism Act (CTA) was presented by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe cabinet and in 2022 Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse’s cabinet passed in Parliament cursory amendments to the PTA to appease international pressure. These attempts were heavily resisted by the people of Sri Lanka, a struggle to which IUSF was a party. Retaining these anti-terror laws is part the Government strategy to control citizen engagement.

Peoples’ protests in Sri Lanka are a celebration of democracy. Instead of listening to the voices of the people and respecting their aspirations for democratic futures, an unpopular government is trying to extend the national security apparatus to silence people. As people call for justice and accountability, the government employs fear tactics, creates new enemies, and silences dissent against moves to establish oppressive socio-economic systems. Detaining student leaders under the PTA would be the death of democracy in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is going through the worst economic crisis. Under pressure from the international bondholders, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), the current government is steamrolling harsh neo-liberal reforms on already distressed people. Detaining student leaders under the PTA is preemptive law enforcement to stop future protests against neo-liberal reforms. In other words, the government is closing democratic spaces, so there would be zero resistance.

We call upon your support, solidarity and power to join hands with a feminist voice against this government of Sri Lanka that has without a shadow of doubt failed to protect its citizens, punishes expression of rights, and is mobilising every repressive law and practice at its disposal to maintain anti-democratic hold over power.

August 27, 2022

Initial Signatories:

1. Afsar Jafri, Social Worker, New Delhi, India
2. Dr Ambreen Ahmad, Islamabad, Pakistan
3. Amalani de Syrah, Liberation Movement
4. Amali Wedagedara, Liberation Movement
5. Amrita Chhachhi, Sangat
6. Anuka de Silva, North Central Province Coordinator, Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) and member of International Coordination Committee, La Via Campasina
7. Anupama Ranaweera, Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics (CSRP). St. Mary’s College, University of St. Andrews
8. Asha Abeyasekera, Research Fellow – Royal Holloway, University of London
9. Ayesha Kidwai, Professor - Centre for Linguistics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
10. Bishnupriya Ghosh, Professor - Global Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara
11. Camena Guneratne, Professor - Department of Legal Studies, Open University of Sri Lanka
12. Chinthaka Rajapakshe, Convener, MONLAR, Sri Lanka
13. Chulani Kodikara, Editorial Collective, Polity, Sri Lanka
14. Crystal Baines, University of Massachusetts Amherst
15. Damith Chandimal, Human Rights and LGBTIQ+ Rights activist
16. Elizabeth Cox, Human Rights and Democracy Advocate, Australia/ Pacific
17. Éric Toussaint, Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt (CADTM)
18. Ermiza Tegal, Liberation Movement and Attorney at Law
19. Farida C. Khan, Professor - Economics, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
20. Dr Geethika Dharmasinghe, Liberation Movement
21. Harshana Rambukwella, Professor - Postgraduate Institute of English (PGIE), the Open University of Sri Lanka
22. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Professor – Department of Languages, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya
23. Ishara Dhanasekera, Liberation Movement
24. Jayadeva Uyangoda, Professor Emeritus, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
25. Jennifer C Olmsted, Professor, Department of Economics, Drew University, Madison, NJ, USA
26. Kanchana N Ruwanpura, Professor - Human Geography, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
27. Kanchuka Dharmasiri, Senior Lecturer – English, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
28. Kaushalya Herath, PhD Student - University of Dundee, UK
29. Kumudini Samuel, Women and Media Collective
30. Khushi Kabir, Feminist Activist, Advisor, Sangat, a South Asian Feminist Network, Dhaka, Bangladesh
31. Lakmali Hemachandra, Liberation Movement
32. Madhubashini Rathnayake, Liberation Movement
33. Maduranga Kalugampitiya – Department of English, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
34. Marissa De Silva, Liberation Movement
35. Megara Tegal, Liberation Movement
36. Michael J Shapiro, Professor - Political Science, University of Hawai’i, Mānoa
37. Nalani Hennayake, Chair Professor – Geography, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
38. Nedha de Silva, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
39. Nethmini Medawala, Attorney-at-Law
40. Nihal Perera, Professor - Urban Planning, Ball State University, IN, USA
41. Nilshan Fonseka
42. Nimanthi Rajasingham, Associate Professor - English and Women’s Studies, Colgate University, USA.
43. Niranjala de Mel
44. Dr Niru Perera, Research Fellow - The Australian National University
45. Nivedita Menon, Professor - School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
46. Niyanthini Kadirgamar, PhD Student, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
47. Noenoe Silva, Professor - Political Science, University of Hawai’i, Mānoa
48. Noelene Nabulivou, Executive Director - DIVA for Equality, Fiji
49. Pasan Jayasinghe, PhD candidate - University College London
50. Pierre Rousset, Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières (ESSF), France
51. Pramesh Pokharel, General Secretary, ANPFA, Nepal
52. Ramindu Perera, Lecturer, Department of Law, Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala
53. Ramona Duminicioiu, a member of the national coordination committee, Eco Rurails, Romania
54. Ramya Kumar, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna
55. Rasma Razmi, Liberation Movement and Attorney-at-Law
56. Dr Rapti Siriwardane-de Zoysa, Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research (Germany)
57. Renuka Karunarathna, Secretary, Collective of Women Affected by Microfinance, Sri Lanka
58. Rohini Hensman, writer, researcher, and activist
59. Ruvani Ranasinha, Professor - Global Literature. Department of English, King’s College London
60. Sachini Perera, Realizing Sexual and Reproductive Justice (RESURJ)
61. Samanthi Gunawardana, Senior Lecturer - Politics & International Relations, Monash University, Australia
62. Sandun Thudugala, Law & Society Trust, Sri Lanka
63. Sankaran Krishna, Professor - Political Science, University of Hawai’i, Mānoa
64. Sarah Arumugam, Liberation Movement and Attorney-at-Law
65. Shamala Kumar, Professor - University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
66. Sharika Thiranagama, Associate Professor - Stanford University, USA
67. Sirisha Naidu, USA
68. Smriti Rao, Professor - Economics, Assumption University, USA
69. Sumanasiri Liyanage, Marx School, Sri Lanka
70. Sumathy Sivamohan, Professor - English - University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
71. Surekha Samarasena, Feminist writer and journalist
72. Sushovan Dhar, Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt (CADTM)
73. Swasthika Arulingam, Liberation Movement, Attorney-at-Law
74. Tansy Hoskins, journalist, UK
75. Tharmika Sivaraja, Liberation Movement and Attorney-at-Law
76. Thilinà Màdiwala, Liberation Movement
77. Thiruni Kelegama, Lecturer - Modern South Asian Studies, University of Oxford, UK
78. Thiyagaraja Waradas, Senior Lecturer, University of Colombo
79. Yathursha Ulakentheran, Liberation Movement
80. Upul Wickramsinghe - Durham University, UK
81. Vasuki Nesiah, Professor - Human Rights and International Law, New York University, USA

Organisations:

1. Beyond Beijing Committee, Nepal
2. Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt (CADTM)
3. Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN)
4. Diva for Equality, Fiji
5. Eco Ruralis - Small Scale Farmers Association of Romania
6. femLINKpacific, Fiji
7. International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW Asia Pacific), Malaysia
8. Pakistan NGOs Forum
9. Realizing Sexual and Reproductive Justice (RESURJ)