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Sri Lanka Marks Democratic Gains Despite Continued Global Decline in Freedom - LNW Lanka News Web
April 06, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has been identified as one of a small group of nations making headway in political rights and civil liberties, according to the latest Freedom in the World 2026 assessment by Freedom House. This comes against the backdrop of a continued global downturn in democratic freedoms, now extending into its twentieth consecutive year.The report highlights a measurable improvement in Sri Lanka’s standing, with the country recording a five-point increase. Analysts attribute this progress to developments following the 2024 presidential election, alongside renewed government efforts to address corruption and foster greater religious harmony.While the overall global picture remains concerning—with more than 50 countries experiencing declines in freedom—only a limited number showed improvement. Sri Lanka was singled out among those demonstrating notable advancement, alongside countries such as Syria, Bolivia and Gabon.Despite these gains, Sri Lanka continues to be classified as “Partly Free”, reflecting the fact that, although progress has been made, challenges remain in strengthening democratic institutions and safeguarding civil liberties.The report paints a broader picture of mounting global pressures on democracy, citing armed conflicts, political instability, institutional erosion and the rise of authoritarian governance as key contributing factors. Several nations—including Tanzania and Burkina Faso—were noted for significant declines during the year.Encouragingly, a handful of countries managed to improve their status classifications, with Fiji and Malawi among those moving into the “Free” category.Observers note that Sri Lanka’s upward trajectory signals a gradual recovery from the political and economic turbulence of recent years. However, the report cautions that sustaining this momentum will require continued commitment to democratic reforms, particularly at a time when global trends point in the opposite direction.
Accountability central to Sri Lanka's future: UN Human Rights report
News GENEVA (6 September 2023) – Sri Lanka suffers from a continuing accountability deficit - be it for war crime atrocities, more recent human rights violations, corruption, or abuse of power - which must be addressed for the country to move forward, according to a UN Human Rights Office report published today. “More than a year ago mass protests demanded better governance and an inclusive vision for Sri Lanka - in short, a renewal of the social contract. But the potential for a historic transformation that would address long-standing challenges is far from being realised,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. Fourteen years since the end of the war, tens of thousands of victims and their families continue to experience the pain and agony of seeking truth, justice, and remedy. While the Government has proposed a new truth-seeking mechanism, the report stresses that the groundwork needs to be laid by genuine efforts to create the enabling environment for any transitional justice process to succeed. This starts through meaningful and transparent consultations with victims and civil society on the current truth-seeking proposal and includes an end to all forms of harassment and unlawful and arbitrary surveillance against human rights defenders and victims’ groups, as well as support for initiatives to acknowledge and memorialize the experience of victims. “Truth-seeking alone will not suffice. It must also be accompanied by a clear commitment to accountability and the political will to implement far-reaching change,” Türk said. Among other recommendations, the report calls on the authorities to accelerate investigations and prosecutions into emblematic cases of human rights violations, as well as the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The High Commissioner has previously urged an independent investigation with international assistance to pursue further lines of inquiry into the full circumstances of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. The report provides an update on the work of the accountability project established by the UN Human Rights Office pursuant to resolutions 46/1 and 51/1. The High Commissioner repeated his call for the international community to support accountability initiatives, notably through investigations and prosecutions using universal or extra-territorial jurisdiction, with other complementary measures. The report also details a number of concerns with proposed new laws, including a new Anti-Terrorism Bill and legislati...
Kannangara’s legacy and the politics of education in Sri Lanka
IN SRI LANKA, the recently proposed educational reforms by the National People's Power government have incited mixed reactions. These were framed as part of a broader effort by the new administration to address the country's economic crisis and rethink its development trajectory, particularly by aligning education more closely with ...
Sri Lanka among Countries showing Democratic Gains in 2025: Freedom House - Newswire
Syria, Sri Lanka, Bolivia and Gabon were identified as countries that recorded the largest improvements during the year. Freedom House said Sri Lanka’s progress came amid broader global challenges, with democratic freedoms under pressure worldwide due to conflicts, coups, erosion of democratic institutions, and increased authoritarianism.
