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On 23 September, the Sri Lankan government invoked the Official Secrets Act to designate public streets and government building in central Colombo “High Security Zones”, written permission from police is required to hold any public gatherings. Under the regulation, police have wide-ranging authority to arrest anyone inside these zones . These broad, severe restrictions threaten the excessive of force and prolonged detention for people exercising their right to peaceful assembly and expression.

Sri Lankans have protested during 2022 year amid an economic crisis and collapsing living standards which led to the resignation of President Rajapakse in July. The authorities have responded frequently to protests with excessive or unnecessary use of force. The new President Wickramesinghe has sought to negotiate external economic support from the International while suppressing peaceful dissent.