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Evidence of backsliding in Sri Lanka - Amnesty

In its annual report on human rights worldwide, Amnesty International said there was "evidence of backsliding" in Sri Lanka, highlighting the ongoing detention of Tamils under the PTA over alleged links to the LTTE and the continued reports of torture during detention. 

"Sri Lanka continued to pursue its 2015 commitments to deliver justice, truth, reparation and guarantees of nonrecurrence for alleged crimes under international law, but progress slowed and there was evidence of backsliding," the report, released on Thursday noted. 

"Parliament passed an amended Office on Missing Persons Act, intended to assist families of the disappeared seeking missing relatives. The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was not repealed; it was still used to arrest and detain suspects. Torture and other ill-treatment in police custody continued. Threats against religious and ethnic minorities and human rights defenders were reported ."

"Impunity for enforced disappearances remained. The government stalled on its commitment to repeal the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act that enabled incommunicado and secret detention. However, the parliament passed an amended Office on Missing Persons Act, intended to assist families of the disappeared seek missing relatives.

"Sri Lanka saw a rise in Buddhist nationalist sentiment, including attacks against Christians and Muslims."

Read full report here

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