Thyagi Ruwanpathirana, Amnesty International’s South Asia Regional Researcher, responded to media reports that the government is in talks with a number of lenders about its debt obligations and the imposition of austerity measures in the midst of a severe economic crisis.
“Amnesty International is particularly concerned that the government’s response to the crisis may result in a further erosion of economic and social rights. We would like to use this opportunity to remind the government of its human rights obligations. Sri Lanka has ratified a number of treaties, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights, under which the government must respect, protect and fulfil all persons’ economic and social rights. These apply even during times of economic crisis.”
He also said,“the Government of Sri Lanka must ensure that discussions with lenders include the urgency to put in place adequate social security measures to protect people from the negative impacts of the economic crisis. It must develop a mechanism for consultation where the people can effectively participate in and contribute to discussions about budgets and public expenditure. The government must also ensure that any austerity measures introduced are temporary, legitimate, necessary, reasonable, proportionate and subject to meaningful review and accountability procedures.”
Amnesty International demands that authorities must ensure that any future debt-related commitments, including debt servicing requirements, do not jeopardise the government’s capacity to meet its human rights obligations.
The first in-person talks with the IMF about Sri Lanka’s bailout request began in Colombo on June 20, 2022.
Last week, Amnesty International sent a letter to Sri Lanka’s government outlining a series of steps to ensure that human rights remain at the forefront of the country’s response to its economic crisis, as the people of Sri Lanka face austerity measures.
