SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka is rebuilding from a series of crises in the last decade. This began with the Easter Sunday terror attacks in 2019, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and thereafter a sovereign debt default in 2022, which triggered an islandwide economic and social crisis. Widespread public protest led to the resignation of then-President Gotabaya Rajapakse, with former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe eventually being elected President by Parliament. After a period of stabilisation, which involved support by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and austerity measures which primarily impacted low-income households, citizens were finally given a chance to vote for a new president in 2024. At the presidential elections, voters rejected the traditional parties, and instead elected Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who led the National People’s Power (NPP) coalition, founded on a platform of ‘system change’ and eradicating corruption. This was followed shortly by a general election where the NPP secured an overwhelming mandate in the form of a two-thirds majority in parliament. Sri Lanka is now emerging from a period of social, economic and political instability. In this context, the promotion of a rules-based international order and democratic principles such as the rule of law and respect for human rights is even more important, but difficult to ensure.  

The Foundation has been active in Sri Lanka since 2017, working on various topics, including constitutional law, fundamental rights, procedural law and law of the sea; and with numerous project partners, including Parliament, the Judiciary, the Bar Association, various ministries, the Attorney General’s Office and the Human Rights Commission in response to the country’s unique context and needs.

• Just Business: Promoting the Adoption of Business and Human Rights in Sri Lanka and the Maldives

• Consolidating the Rule of Law in Sri Lanka: Strengthening the Resilience of Democratic Institutions to Promote Stability in the Face of Crises
• Strengthening the Rule of Law and Democratic Principles in Sri Lanka in Times of Crisis
• Advancing Institutional Capacity in the Sri Lankan Justice System
• Advancing Knowledge on Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka
• Capacity Building for Judges and Lawyers in Sri Lanka
• The Implementation of UNCLOS: Supporting Maritime Governance in the Indian Ocean (Part IV) 
• The Implementation of UNCLOS: Supporting Maritime Governance in the Indian Ocean (Part III)
• The Implementation of UNCLOS: Supporting Maritime Governance in the Indian Ocean (Part II)
• The Implementation of UNCLOS: Supporting Maritime Governance in the Indian Ocean (Part I)
• Sri Lanka: Supporting the Constitutional Reform Process

Recording: Just Judges? – A Public Lecture by Lady Brenda Hale

Johannes Krusemark-Camin

Email: Phone: +49 (0)6221 91404 23 (See full profile)