• Says that watchdog yet to get copy of the Bill despite prior notice

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has formally requested the Ministry of Public Security to share a copy of the draft Non-Governmental Organisations (Registration and Supervision) Bill.

In a letter addressed to Ministry Secretary D.W.R.B. Seneviratne, the commission said it understands that the Bill seeks to regulate the registration and supervision of NGOs, replacing the Voluntary Social Services Organisations (Registration and Supervision) Act, No. 31 of 1980.

The HRCSL also noted that under Section 10(c) of its establishing Act, it is empowered to advise and assist the Government in drafting legislation that promotes and protects fundamental rights. The commission said it is ready to provide its observations on the current version of the Bill.

The HRCSL further noted that in March 2024, the Director General of the National Secretariat for NGOs had informed the commission that the previous version of the Bill was sent to the Attorney General’s Department for a Certificate of Compliance, after which a copy would be forwarded to the commission. However, the HRCSL said it has not yet received the draft.

Citing its experience with the Online Safety Bill, the commission stressed that its input on laws affecting fundamental rights should ideally be sought before a Bill is gazetted, rather than afterwards.

The attempts made to contact the Justice Ministry and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka were unsuccessful.