Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on January 13 in its World Report 2021 that Sri Lanka’s human rights situation has seriously deteriorated under the administration of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, reports Colombo Page. According to the report, Government security forces have increased intimidation and surveillance of human rights activists, victims of past abuses, lawyers, and journalists. Minority Muslim and Tamil communities have faced discrimination and threats. The Government pushed through passage of a constitutional amendment that undermines judicial independence and weakens oversight institutions, such as the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. In February, Sri Lanka withdrew its commitments to the 2015 United Nations Human Rights Council for truth seeking, accountability, and reconciliation following the country’s long civil war.