Sri Lanka: Changes to the Constitution looming

As International-LaCroix (ILC) reported on 15 September 2020, the new Sri Lankan government plans to amend the Constitution to fulfil an election pledge. The initial draft has had a very critical reception, as ILC reported on 7 September 2020. Thomas Muller, persecution analyst at World Watch Research (WWR), comments: "The ruling Rajapaksa family and their party have lost no time in drafting the long announced charter change, which many observers see as a return to former times of authoritarianism through an erosion of democratic rights. However, this has not come as a surprise, since it was already announced during the election campaign. Nevertheless, the initial draft has been heavily criticized by civil society, lawyers and other professions. The Rajapaksas are known to be Buddhist nationalists, so it does not bode well for religious minorities if they are to be given more power. In the non-too distant future, it is likely that WWR will be listing Dictatorial paranoia again as a leading Persecution engine operating in Sri Lanka alongside Religious nationalism."