STATEMENT: PEARL strongly condemns this week’s establishment of two presidential task forces in #SriLanka, which sets the country on a firm course to autocratic governance. Both new task forces appear to be exclusively Sinhala and include suspected war criminals. (1/7) 
“Rajapaksa’s new presidential task forces will exacerbate the existing militarization and state-sponsored colonization of the Tamil-dominated North-East, breeding further tension and instability in the region,” said PEARL’s Executive Director @tdmanoranjan. (2/7)
The goals of the “PTF to build a Secure Country, Disciplined, Virtuous and Lawful Society” are written ambiguously - to “curb illegal activities of social groups” and “take legal action against persons responsible for...anti-social activities”. (3/7)
tinyurl.com/yax8tadq
tinyurl.com/yax8tadq
This gives the task force a wide remit, which solidifies fears that #SriLanka could strengthen its restriction of human rights organizations, Tamil civil society groups, and political actors. (4/7)
The “PTF for Archaeological Heritage Management in the Eastern Province” must be seen in the wider context of state-sponsored Sinhala colonization in the east led by the military, government officials, and the Department of Archaeology. (5/7)
tinyurl.com/ybuhewdb
tinyurl.com/ybuhewdb
The task force, which is made up exclusively of Sinhala appointees, will undeniably serve as an extension of this project to identify and safeguard Sinhala-Buddhist 'historical sites', at the expense of Tamil or Muslim sites. (6/7)
pearlaction.org/2019/03/11/sin…
pearlaction.org/2019/03/11/sin…
This latest move by #Rajapaksa is grounded in the Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist ethos. As hopes for reforms from within #SriLanka remain futile, the international community must take decisive action and cease supporting the increasingly #militarized Sri Lankan state. (7/7)
