It has been around five months since the Sri Lankan masses launched their protests to exercise their basic human rights. These protests were peaceful and unarmed. They were just demanding to fulfill the basic economic needs such as reduction of prices of essential goods, availability of essential food items, fuel and medicine. We all know that the protests made members of the powerful Rajapaksa family resign one after the other, finally forcing president Gotabhaya to flee the country and subsequently hand over his resignation. 

After the resignation of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, people demanded Ranil Wickramasinha’s resignation as well. However, with the backing of Rajapaksa's parliamentary majority, Ranil became the succeeding President. 

From the very first day, the Ranil Rajapaksa’s regime opted to use repression against unarmed and peaceful protests. Just because Ranil Rajapaksa's regime does not have any solution to the problems faced by the masses, they started using brutal repression as they are terrified of a new wave of protests. 

On 18th August, the protest carried out by the Inter-University Student’s Federation also met with brutal repression and arrests. It is no secret that the IUSF played a key role in recent protests and the 13 arrests, three were detained under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Also President and Sri Lanka's Defence Minister, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has approved to detain and interrogate of the Convener of the Inter-University Students' Federation Wasantha Mudalige, Activist Hashantha Jeewantha Gunathilake, and Venerable Galwewa Siridhamma Thero for a period of 90-days under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. 

The PTA is a scandalous piece of legislation that has been in operation for 40 years. Under it, police can detain anyone for 3 months without trial, followed by any number of 3-month extensions. It has predominantly been used against Tamils and Muslims in the past, some having been detained over two decades.

Arresting the peaceful protesters who raised the real demands of the people under this draconian law is a direct violation of human rights. Hence it is vital to Stand in Solidarity against this inhuman law and the protesters who were arrested under it. 

This petition is signed to raise a voice against these actions and bring the voice of the people to the attention of the United Nations Human Rights Commission of Geneva. We request you to take all steps to:

• Stop theHuman Rights Violations of Ranil Rajapaksa’s Regime in Sri Lanka!
• Release all people arrested because of their involvement in recent and ongoing protests!
• Release all political prisoners!
• Repeal the 'Prevention of Terrorist Act' immediately!