A new public initiative titled ‘Know Your Neethi (i.e. Know Your Laws)’ campaign was launched yesterday (18), bringing together national leadership and international partners in a unified effort to make legal knowledge accessible to all Sri Lankans.
A 2022 study in the Ratnapura Police Division revealed that low legal literacy had contributed to 65% of the participants becoming victims of crimes, and 85% facing difficulties within the criminal justice system. A lack of legal knowledge was also a contributing factor among 90% of the study participants who had engaged in criminal activities.
Guided by the findings, the campaign seeks to demystify the law and promote legal literacy, primarily in local languages, on key issues that affect everyday life, covering anti-corruption, domestic violence, employment rights, environmental protection, computer crimes, and drug-related offences. Viewers can access short films, expert interviews, and explainer videos in Sinhala and Tamil. Hosted across Social Media (YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram), the campaign channel offers simplified, engaging content, designed to make legal information accessible, relatable, and actionable.
A two-day legal awareness camp is scheduled to take place starting with Badulla later this year, providing vulnerable communities in the area with vital access to legal education, legal aid clinics, and opportunities to engage directly with legal institutions. Legal knowledge is not a luxury; it is a tool for prevention, protection, and justice. By making legal information accessible and understandable, the campaign aspires to build a society where every person knows their rights, understands their responsibilities, and has the means to seek justice.
This initiative is part of the Support to Justice Sector Project (JURE), funded by the European Union (EU), jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Children’s Fund Sri Lanka, and facilitated by the Ministry of Justice. Under the 2024 JURE project, over 40,000 individuals received legal aid and participated in legal awareness sessions.
Commenting on the initiative, the Ambassador of the EU to Sri Lanka, Carmen Moreno stated: “The law must not only protect — it must empower individuals. And that empowerment begins with knowledge. Informed citizens are more likely to participate in public dialogue, contribute to legal reforms, and hold those in power to account. A legal culture based on transparency and participation makes justice more effective for everyone”.
Highlighting the UNDP’s role, the Resident Representative of the UNDP in Sri Lanka, Azusa Kubota commented: “This campaign is about more than information – it's about empowerment and making sure that every person in Sri Lanka has the confidence to say that they understand their rights. It brings together experts from the legal landscape to empower people to understand their rights, while contributing to a more just, resilient, and inclusive society.”