Sri Lanka has been a priority country of the NHRF since 2014, and it was chosen in light of the decreasing funding situation for human rights. A situation which has continued despite important challenges linked to peace and reconciliation, democracy and socioeconomic rights.

Since the beginning we have supported grantees who focus on two priority areas; protection for human rights defenders and the right to defend rights through documentation and other mechanisms and secure access to justice through combating restrictive laws, provide legal aid and fight the slow-moving justice system. From 2023, we have included work on dismantling inequality and marginalisation in Sri Lanka, focusing particularly on women workers in the textile sector.

Through more than a decade supporting Sri Lankan civil society, we have seen the importance of our grantees’ work to mobilize communities from the ground up in fighting for their rights. Particularly in times of socioeconomic crises such as those experienced in Sri Lanka since 2019. With this experience we remain a committed supporter going forward as well.

Currently, we support 3 grantee partners (3 projects) in Sri Lanka located in the Western, Central and Northern provinces.

Prioritised thematic areas (2021-2025):

• Fight against impunity and access to justice

• Dismantling discrimination inequality and marginalisation of women workers

• Protecting human rights defenders and the right to defend rights