On 5 and 6 July, violent riots at Negombo Prison resulted in at least 32 deaths, including prisoners and prison officers, and more than 100 injuries. The violence marked Sri Lanka’s deadliest prison riot in recent years. The United Nations said the riot exposed longstanding structural problems, including severe overcrowding, prolonged pretrial detention and inadequate prison conditions, and called for a prompt, independent and transparent investigation. Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission opened an inquiry into the deaths and injuries during the riot, as well as the subsequent deaths and alleged ill-treatment of inmates moved from Negombo to other prisons. 

Sources:  OHCHR, BBC News, Amnesty International, Economy Next, OHCHR (2) 

In February, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka warned that police actions against journalists in December 2025 constituted emerging threats to freedom of expression. Police had summoned investigative journalist Tharindu Jayawardena over reporting on alleged corruption and asked the telecommunications regulator to consider revoking Hiru Media Network’s broadcasting licence following critical coverage. The Commission found that police had not disclosed the grounds for the summons and lacked jurisdiction to investigate complaints based solely on defamation. No subsequent prosecution, formal action or regulatory sanction had been publicly reported by November. Media groups nevertheless said the incidents, amid concerns over the chilling effect of the 2024 Online Safety Act, showed that pressure on critical reporting continued despite the government’s democratic reform commitments.

Update: In June, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the government would not implement the Online Safety Act in its existing form and had secured Cabinet approval to introduce a replacement legislation. However, no replacement legislation had been enacted by the end of September, and the Act remained in force. 

Sources:  International Federation of Journalists, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, International IDEA

In December, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Justice and National Integration published the draft Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTA), intended to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The PTA has long been criticized as a tool used to facilitate human rights abuse and silence dissent. Rights experts warn that the draft retains—and in some cases worsens—many of the controversial features of the PTA, including overbroad definitions of terrorism, expansive police and presidential powers and inadequate safeguards that allow for prolonged detentions. The government has invited public comment on the proposed legislation until 28 February. However, civil society groups have criticized the timing of the release, noting that it comes in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which limits meaningful public engagement. 

Update: On 22 September, the government gazetted a revised Protection of the State from Terrorism bill, which is scheduled for further debate and review in parliament. Despite some added procedural safeguards, rights experts warned that it retains numerous provisions associated with serious human rights violations under the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act.  

Sources: Centre for Policy Alternatives, Lankaweb, International IDEA, Ministry of Justice Sri Lanka, Human Rights Watch (1), Government of Sri Lanka, Human Rights Watch (2)

On 29 November, Sri Lanka’s government declared a state of emergency following the worst natural disaster in decades. ‘Cyclone Ditwah’ resulted in over 600 deaths, with thousands of homes destroyed and hundreds of people still missing. The emergency laws grant the president sweeping powers to override existing laws, deploy armed forces, impose curfews and regulate media and essential services. While the use of emergency laws in Sri Lanka is not unprecedented, their continued use as a default response to crises—particularly under a new administration that came into office after the mass protests in 2022—raises significant concerns. Civil society organizations note that recovery efforts should be addressed through existing laws such as the Disaster Management Act. A key concern raised is that the emergency laws create yet another council under the president, duplicating the Disaster Management Council and undermining accountability and civilian governance.

Update: The state of emergency remained in force through repeated extensions in 2026, with Parliament approving its final renewal on 9 June despite civil society concerns over prolonged executive powers. It expired on 26 June and was not renewed.

Sources: Centre for Policy Alternatives, New York Times, Colombo Telegraph, Centre for Policy Alternatives (2)