Description

Same as in the previous months on 20th June, a gazette notification was issued by the President calling out the Armed forces for the maintenance of public order under the powers granted in the public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40). The gazette notification provides the powers for the armed forces to intervene in civilian affairs. The Sri Lanka government has been issuing similar monthly gazettes for several years now, indicating the continuing trend of militarization and shrinking civil space. The history of public security ordinance goes back to the British Colonial era as it was introduced as the final law of colonial rule in an attempt to suppress and control political dissent.