Justice, Finally! Supreme Court Sides with Jehovah’s Witnesses After 11-Year Legal Saga

Well, well, well—after more than a decade of waiting, a little courtroom drama has finally ended with a plot twist that few saw coming. On May 21, 2025, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka dropped a legal bombshell, siding with four Jehovah’s Witness women who say they were mistreated while peacefully sharing their faith.

Let’s rewind the clock.

It all started back in October 2014 in the sleepy southern village of Kirama, where four sisters were out doing what Jehovah’s Witnesses do—talking to locals about their beliefs. But things took a turn when a rowdy crowd showed up, clearly not in the mood for a spiritual chat. And here’s where it gets eyebrow-raising: instead of calming the situation, the police arrested the four women—yes, the victims—and tossed them behind bars overnight.

That’s not all. The sisters were split up and locked in cells with violent offenders. No charges, no court orders, nothing. Just a night in jail for... peacefully talking about faith?

The very next month, the local magistrate saw the nonsense for what it was and threw the case out. But the sisters didn’t stop there. Oh no—they went higher. They took it to the Human Rights Commission and then all the way to the Supreme Court. Eleven years and a mountain of legal paperwork later, justice was served.

The ruling? The court found that the local authorities had violated the women's rights. Not only that, but it ordered the local police chief and the State to pay financial compensation to each of the four sisters.

One of them, Sister Malkanthi, had this to say after the big win:

“This ruling was not merely a win for the four of us. Really, this victory reaffirmed the right of all our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka to worship peacefully.”

Quite the mic drop.

And while this might seem like a win for just a few, it’s sending ripples far beyond Kirama. Legal insiders are calling it a major moment for religious freedom in Sri Lanka—and even the entire South Asian region. It confirms that sharing your beliefs peacefully isn’t a crime, no matter how unpopular it may be with the neighbours.

So what’s the takeaway? If you’ve ever doubted that persistence pays off, here’s your proof. Eleven years, one courtroom at a time—and now, a little bit of justice is flying high in Sri Lanka.