Colombo, July 21 (UNI) Independent UN human rights experts have called for urgent attention from global humanitarian as well as financial institutions and other countries towards the economic collapse of Sri Lanka.
They expressed alarm over the record-high inflation, rising commodity prices, power shortages, crippling fuel crisis in the country which has led to the total economic collapse in Sri Lanka, at a time when the country is grappling with unprecedented political turmoil. They noted that this crisis has had a serious impact on human rights in the country as well.
Attiya Waris, the UN independent expert on foreign debt and human rights, said that time and again, “we have seen the grave systemic repercussions a debt crisis has had on countries, exposing deep structural gaps of the global financial system, and affecting the implementation of human rights”, adding that “Prolonged disrupted access to food and healthcare has severely affected people with illnesses, pregnant women and lactating mothers who are in serious need of life assistance”.
Earlier this year, as part of its continuous engagement with the authorities, UN experts urged the Sri Lankan government to guarantee the fundamental rights of peaceful assembly and expression during peaceful protests, as thousands of people gathered in front of the President’s office in Colombo, demanding his resignation over corruption and mishandling of the economic crisis.
The snowballing economic and debt crises were ultimately deepened by the government’s hasty and botched agricultural transition. Under such conditions, the World Food Programme launched an emergency response warning that nearly 62,000 Sri Lankans were in need of urgent assistance.
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