Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Sri Lanka (Ratification: 2003)

Article 1(a) of the Convention. Penal sanctions involving compulsory labour as a punishment for expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system. Penal Code. The Committee previously requested the Government to provide information on the application in practice of section 120 of the Penal Code which provides for penalties of imprisonment for up to two years to any person who by words, signs or visible representations excites or attempts to excite feelings of disaffection to the President or the Government, or hatred towards or contempt of the administration of justice, or excites or attempts to excite people, or attempts to raise discontent or to promote feelings of ill will and hostility between different classes of people. The Committee notes the Government’s information that from 2018 to 2023, 31 cases were filed under section 120 of the Penal Code, of which 28 cases are ongoing. In the three cases that have been resolved, one acquittal and two convictions were secured. The Government indicates that the punishment involved simple imprisonment which do not entail compulsory labour. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the application in practice of section 120 of the Penal Code, indicating the facts that led to the convictions handed down and the specific penalties imposed.

With regard to the application in practice of sections 480 (defamation), 481 (printing or engraving any defamatory matter), and 482 (selling or offering to sale any defamatory material) of the Penal Code, the Committee takes due note of the Government’s indication that these provisions were repealed by the Penal Code (Amendment) Act No. 12 of 2002.