While there are many differences between the UK and Sri Lanka, two significant events took place in the two countries over the course of last week which served to restrict freedom of expression and specifically the right to protest, thereby placing both nations in a similar light. Firstly the UK’s House of Commons, the lower house of Parliament, passed the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on Monday (5). Usually in the UK, to place restrictions on a protest, Police generally have to prove the protest may result in “serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community”. However, if the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill becomes an Act, Police will be able to place tougher conditions on protests. In the weeks leading up to this Bill being tabled in Parliament, there were ‘Kill the Bill’ protests around the UK, demanding that the Government shelve the Bill which restricts the freedom to protest.

Source: The Nation July 11, 2021 16:41 UTC