The European Union (EU) should work with its international partners to press the Sri Lankan government for its rights obligations, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said, warning that respect for human rights in the country has been “declining alarmingly under President Rajapaksa.” 

“Brussels has a historic opportunity to help reverse this trend and press the government to meet its human rights obligations. The EU should also work with international partners” the rights watchdog said in a statement on Thursday. 

Colombo has long been facing criticism from rights groups for its draconian terrorism laws, which allows the state to detain people for years without any charges. The EU and the US have recently stepped up their pressure for the amendment in the laws.

The situation deteriorated further under hardliner President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who has assured foreign leaders in recent months of amending these laws. However, his words haven’t yet translated into action. 

“Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa carries little credibility when he tells foreign diplomats he will reform the country’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA),” HRW noted in the statement. It further added, “earlier this year, he (Rajapaksa) acted to make the law, which permits long-term detention without trial, more repressive, not less.”

Sri Lanka, which ended its three-decade-long bloody ethnic civil war in 2009, still has the largest number of undertrial political prisoners in prison. 

In June this year the EU toughened its stance by passing a resolution to revoke the country’s GSP Plus status— under which Sri Lankan goods get preferential access to the EU market—unless Colombo mends its ways. 

Commenting on the move, HRW said, “The outcome will ultimately depend on the EU’s level of ambition and assertiveness. The EU should not allow itself to be hoodwinked by a sham PTA reform.” 

Under pressure, the government had appointed a committee to suggest reforms. The draft containing recommendations, however, was neither made public nor civil society was consulted in the process. 

Moreover, based on certain leaks to media, rights groups claimed the recommendations didn’t address the shortcomings in the existing PTA. 

Earlier this month, seven United Nations human rights experts published five benchmarks that are “necessary prerequisites” for making the law compliant with Sri Lanka’s international human rights obligations. (SAM)