A Lawyer’s Journey
Sri Lanka has long been home to diverse religious communities, with Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity shaping the country’s cultural and social fabric. However, despite constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, violations have persisted over the years. Reports by human rights organizations highlight forced closures of unregistered places of worship, attacks on religious sites, discrimination in implementation of state policies, and harassment of religious minorities. In some cases, local authorities have failed to protect victims, while in others, legal frameworks such as the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) have been misused to justify restrictions.
As a lawyer working on cases involving religious minorities, I witnessed these challenges firsthand. Many victims, especially from ethno-religious minorities, were afraid to seek legal help, unsure of their rights, or skeptical of whether the legal system could protect them. Even when cases reached the courts, the lack of proper documentation, the political sensitivity of certain violations, and institutional resistance often made legal intervention difficult. I wanted to advocate for these communities, but I needed better tools to navigate these complexities.
That’s when I participated in the training on legal aspects of FoRB for lawyers organized through the ISJ program in Sri Lanka. Implemented jointly by ABA ROLI and ADT, this training was unique in that, instead of focusing solely on legal theory, equipped me with practical strategies to document violations, work with affected communities, and advocate for legal protection of the right to FoRB beyond the courtroom.
Equipping Us for the Fight
The legal training on FoRB wasn’t just about reading laws and discussing legal theory; it was about learning how to apply that knowledge in the real world, where cases of religious discrimination were often ignored or suppressed.
Through the program, I learned how to:
- Document human rights violations effectively. Many religious minorities had experienced harassment, forced closures of places of worship, and even physical violence, but there was little official documentation. I was trained in how to gather evidence, collect witness statements, and compile case files that could hold up in court.
- Engage with victims sensitively. I learned how to approach individuals and communities who had suffered religious discrimination, how to build their trust, and how to explain their legal options in a way that made sense to them.
- Navigate politically sensitive cases. Not all violations were straightforward. Some cases involved government authorities or powerful institutions, making legal intervention risky. Through this program, I learned alternative strategies for handling such cases carefully within the legal framework, ensuring both my safety and the safety of the victims.
- Advocate beyond the courtroom. Legal victories don’t always come through court cases alone. The program taught me how to work with civil society organizations, engage with policymakers, and use legal documentation as a tool for advocacy and long-term systemic change.
Apart from the training, through the ISJ program, I was introduced to a network of like-minded senior lawyers, civil society actors and human rights defenders, from across the country, who felt the need to protect every citizen constitutionally guaranteed right to FoRB. For the first time, I felt like I had a roadmap. I was no longer just an individual lawyer struggling to make an impact—I was part of a structured, well-supported effort to protect religious freedom in Sri Lanka.
Real Impact on the Ground
With my new skills, I started taking on legal cases that once felt impossible.
One of my first major cases involved a Christian community whose place of worship had been shut down by local authorities without legal justification. Before the FoRB program, I might have tried to argue the case in court without solid documentation, making it easier for officials to dismiss the claims. But now, I know how to build a stronger case. I worked closely with community members to collect evidence, document past incidents of harassment, and gather testimonies from those affected. As part of our team, I helped build a strong case that ultimately led to challenging the shutdown and reopening the church.
In another case, a group of Muslim business owners was facing discriminatory regulations that appeared to deliberately target their community. Many were afraid to speak out due to fear of retaliation. What initially seemed like a legal matter quickly evolved into a complex religious and social issue. Drawing on what I had learned in the program, I provided legal representation. Together with our team, we engaged both parties, offering legal guidance and advocacy support on all sides. This dual approach helped ease tensions and led to a mutually agreeable settlement without escalating the conflict. To this day, that settlement continues to hold, supported by the awareness and understanding built during the process
I also saw firsthand how important legal training was for grassroots organizations. Many were witnessing rights violations but didn’t know how to properly document them or where to turn for help. With the skills I acquired through the ISJ program, I conducted group consultations to teach community leaders how to identify religious rights violations, record evidence, and connect with legal professionals when needed. This created a ripple effect, people who had once felt powerless now had the tools to stand up for themselves.
Beyond that, I’ve passed on my knowledge and experiences to my juniors and apprentices at my chamber, and I’m proud to see them continuing this work. Whenever an interfaith or religious-related case arises, colleagues often turn to me for guidance. I’ve been able to share what I’ve learned not just within my own chamber but with my broader community of peer lawyers as well
Then Everything Stopped
Just as we were gaining momentum, the US foreign aid freeze changed everything.
The program that had been so life-changing for me was suddenly gone. Valuable training sessions could no longer take place, and the strong network of civil society actors, lawyers, and human rights defenders I had become part of was left without the structure and support needed to sustain our collective advocacy efforts.
I felt the impact immediately. Without the program’s support, I lost access to the resources that had helped me build strong cases. Community organizations that had just started documenting violations as a result of foundational training given through ISJ, were left without continued guidance. People who had begun to trust the legal system were once again left without strong advocates.
Even more frustrating was seeing how many cases never even got filed. Many people who had gained the confidence to seek legal help lost hope when they realized the network of support was no longer available. Cases that could have set important legal precedents were left unchallenged. The silence that we had fought so hard to break was creeping back.
Why This Program Must Continue
The impact of the ISJ program wasn’t limited to training individual lawyers—it was about creating a stronger network of civic actors who together could ensure more just a strengthening the legal system. It was about ensuring that religious minorities had advocates who knew how to fight for their rights within the country’s legal system.
Ending the ISJ program didn’t just take away opportunities for training and learning, it took away networks, protection, hope, and progress.
We had started to build something powerful, including a national network of legal professionals equipped to handle FoRB cases; a system for documenting human rights violations that could hold authorities accountable; and a movement where communities felt empowered to seek justice.
Now, all of that is at risk of disappearing.
I still carry the lessons I learned, and I still fight for justice every day. But without the support, the mentorship, and the resources this program provided, the battle has become much harder—not just for me, but for every lawyer and every victim of religious discrimination in Sri Lanka.
The work we started must continue. Without it, we are not just losing a program—we are losing the possibility of a more just and equal society.
