The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) is deeply concerned about the government’s approach to adopt the Official Secrets Act and declare high security zones, which grossly violates the fundamental rights of the people of the country.

HRCSL Chairperson issuing a statement yesterday said that it was a fallacy without any justification that the HSZs are declared under the Official Secrets Act. The full statement is as follows;

“The notion that the High-Security Zones be declared under the Official Secret Act is a fallacy without any justification or basis. The Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned about the Government’s approach to adopting the Official Secret Act and making a declaration, which grossly violates the fundamental rights of the people of this country.

And it reiterates that the Official Secret Act cannot be adopted to declare High-Security Zones.

It further advises the Government to direct the withdrawal of the gazette bearing No.2298/53 dated 23rd September and to take measures to ensure that national laws are following the accepted international and national human rights norms and standards and to preclude declarations that violate those norms and standards.”