Sri Lanka Country Update

This report provides an overview of religious freedom conditions in Sri Lanka in 2022. This past year, the country sank into a severe economic crisis that precipitated a serious lack of fuel and basic necessities. As a result of this crisis and overall dissatisfaction with the government, citizens from across the country launched a major protest movement that called for systemic change in governance. Prior to and during the protests which led to the July resignation of then President Mahinda Rajapaksa, religious freedom violations occurred involving the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), discrimination against Muslims and other religious minorities, and land disputes which threaten religious minority property. In the aftermath of the protests, Sri Lankan authorities harassed religious actors associated with the protest movement and intimidated minority religious communities.