ARTICLE 19, the UK based human rights organization, has expressed deep concern over the Sri Lankan government “crackdown” on journalists, freedom of expression, right to protest, which are shrinking civic space and undermine democracy by the name of ‘ emergency regulations for public security’.

Human rights of the citizens are being violated systematically in the country at extreme level, said the rights body on Friday.

From March 31, 2022, in Sri Lanka, access to social media was cut off, many journalists have been harassed and attacked by police, and at least nine have been injured while threatening to newspaper editors, individual bloggers, dissents, protesters have continued, said ARTICLE 19.

Read: National plan of action needed to counter hate speech: ARTICLE 19

In a statement issued to the media on Friday, Faruq Faisel, the Regional Director of ARTICLE 19 South Asia, said the use of armed forces to repress people’s protests on the very first day of newly elected president Ranil Wickremesinghe is unacceptable and will have chilling effect on democracy, freedom of expression, and civic space in Sri Lanka.

“Sri Lankan government should respect people’s rights to protest and freedom of expression online and offline. New president should not repeat the mistakes of his predecessors. He must ensure that any measures taken should be legitimate, proportionate, necessary and compatible with international human rights standards,” he said.

ARTICLE 19 called on the Sri Lankan government to act with responsibility to ensure the core values of democracy, the basic fundamental rights of the people aligning with the international human rights norms and practices.