Fundamental rights

මූලික අයිතිවාසිකම් · அடிப்படை உரிமைகள்

Equality, liberty, speech, petitions

Situations

• Getting information from a government office · රජයේ ආයතනයකින් තොරතුරු ලබා ගැනීම · அரச நிறுவனத்திடமிருந்து தகவல் பெறுதல்
• A state officer violated your fundamental rights · රජයේ නිලධාරියෙක් ඔබේ මූලික අයිතිවාසිකම් උල්ලංඝනය කළා · அரச அலுவலர் ஒருவர் உங்கள் அடிப்படை உரிமைகளை மீறினார்
• You were tortured or beaten in custody · රැඳවුම් භාරයේ සිටියදී ඔබට වධහිංසා කළා හෝ පහර දුන්නා · காவலில் இருந்தபோது நீங்கள் சித்திரவதை செய்யப்பட்டீர்கள் அல்லது தாக்கப்பட்டீர்கள்
• A public authority discriminated against you · රාජ්‍ය ආයතනයක් ඔබට වෙනස් කොට සැලකුවා · பொது அதிகாரசபை ஒன்று உங்களைப் பாகுபாட்டுடன் நடத்தியது
• You were arrested or threatened for what you said or posted · ඔබ කී දෙයක් හෝ පළ කළ දෙයක් නිසා ඔබව අත්අඩංගුවට ගත්තා හෝ තර්ජනය කළා · நீங்கள் சொன்னதற்காக அல்லது பதிவிட்டதற்காக கைது செய்யப்பட்டீர்கள் அல்லது அச்சுறுத்தப்பட்டீர்கள்
• You want to complain to the Human Rights Commission · ඔබට මානව හිමිකම් කොමිෂන් සභාවට පැමිණිලි කිරීමට අවශ්‍යයි · நீங்கள் மனித உரிமைகள் ஆணைக்குழுவில் முறைப்பாடு செய்ய விரும்புகிறீர்கள்

Acts, ordinances and regulations

• Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (1978), Chapter III — Lists your fundamental rights: religion, freedom from torture, equality, fair arrest and trial, speech, assembly, work, movement and information.
• Constitution, Article 126 (Supreme Court fundamental rights jurisdiction) — Only the Supreme Court hears fundamental rights cases; you must apply within one month of the violation.
• Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Act, No. 21 of 1996 — Creates the Human Rights Commission, which investigates rights violations by officials and recommends remedies.
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act, No. 56 of 2007 — Gives rights to fair trial, child protection and public participation; makes advocating hatred that incites violence a crime.
• Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Act, No. 22 of 1994 — Makes torture by or with the consent of a public officer a serious crime tried in the High Court.
• Right to Information Act, No. 12 of 2016 — Lets citizens request information held by public authorities, supporting Article 14A.
• Online Safety Act, No. 9 of 2024 — Regulates online statements and creates an Online Safety Commission; an amendment Bill is pending.
• Penal Code (Ordinance No. 2 of 1883), ss. 291A and 291B — Punishes deliberately wounding or outraging religious feelings by words or acts.
• Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act, No. 10 of 2023 — Gives rights and protection to crime victims and witnesses; replaced the 2015 Act.
• Legal Aid Law, No. 27 of 1978 — Set up the Legal Aid Commission, which gives free legal advice and court help to low-income people.