The primary concern of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (Commission, HRCSL) in giving the impugned directive to the Ceylon Electricity Board was to protect the fundamental human rights of the students sitting for a decisive examination from 25th January to 17th February. Undoubtedly, these students are at the crossroads of their future and will be called upon to shape the future of this nation. All children have equal rights to education with an emphasis on the word ‘equal’. The issue is not whether the students in rural areas could study without electricity, but that the right to education is a human right declared and recognized by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and to be meaningful must necessarily include the availability of a proper environment and proper facilities. It is the cardinal responsibility of the Human Rights Commission to protect that right if in its view, the decisions taken by the State would undermine such right, and such decisions have been taken arbitrarily and unreasonably with callous disregard to the right of these students during the impugned period.

Download: HRCSL Press Notice on 13022023