This practice, which has been in place since the Easter Sunday attacks during President Maithripala Sirisena’s tenure, has been continued by successive governments.

Former Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) member Ambika Satkunanathan expressed her disappointment over the decision on social media platform X.

She criticised the move, stating, “Deeply disappointing that President Anura Kuma Dissanayake has used Section 12 of the Public Security Ordinance to call out the armed forces to maintain public order. It is unnecessary and a continuation of the militarisation of policing.”