Sri Lanka Civic Space Rated ‘Repressed’ in 2025 Global Report 📈

The CIVICUS Monitor "People Power Under Attack 2025" report has categorized Sri Lanka’s civic space as repressed, citing ongoing crackdowns on dissent and the use of counter-terror laws. • Overall Assessment Sri Lanka remains among 9 Asian nations rated as repressed. Key violations include the detention of activists, harassment of journalists, and the surveillance of civil society. Over 85% of the Asia-Pacific population now lives in countries rated as ‘Repressed’ or ‘Closed’. • Key Incidents & Sector Impacts Legal & Security: Authorities frequently used the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Notable cases include the detention of a 22-year-old youth over Palestine activism and the summoning of Tamil activists in the North and East by the CTID. Media & ICT: Journalists and photojournalists faced obstruction and forced removal of social media content. Digital repression and surveillance apparatus remain largely intact, especially in conflict-affected regions. Protests & Labor: In March 2025, 27 student activists were arrested in Colombo. In September, police used force to disperse anti-wind farm protests in Mannar. Approximately 3,000 individuals from the 2022 Aragalaya protests still face unresolved legal cases. • Regional Context The most alarming trend across Asia-Pacific is the mass detention of protesters in at least 18 countries. While nations like Japan and Taiwan remain ‘Open’, regional giants like China and Vietnam are rated ‘Closed’.