Despite recommendations from numerous domestic and international bodies, previous administrations have overlooked calls for reforms addressing serious violations of international law, including war crimes during the decades-long civil conflict involving government forces and the LTTE.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution that would extend its mandate to monitor and report on human rights violations in Sri Lanka. This measure aims to facilitate ongoing documentation and evidence collection for potential future prosecutions.
In a statement, HRW emphasized the need for newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who took office on September 21, 2024, to shift away from his predecessors’ policies. The organization urged him to cooperate with the UN’s investigation mechanism, cease the use of repressive laws to suppress dissent, and protect activists and families of victims from threats and reprisals.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, in a recent report, highlighted ongoing issues of police and security force mistreatment, stating that necessary reforms have not been implemented and fundamental freedoms remain under threat. He pointed to “entrenched impunity” for past abuses, which he linked to the governance failures contributing to Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis.
“Successive governments have failed to hold accountable officials responsible for severe abuses, particularly against Tamils and Muslims,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, HRW’s deputy Asia director. “President Dissanayake has the opportunity to change this trajectory by ensuring justice and safeguarding victims and activists.”
Despite recommendations from numerous domestic and international bodies, previous administrations have overlooked calls for reforms addressing serious violations of international law, including war crimes during the decades-long civil conflict involving government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Accountability for Grave Crimes
The UN report also indicated that the Sri Lankan government has largely neglected to acknowledge past violations, with several mass graves discovered but not properly investigated. Victims face substantial barriers to justice, and commemorative events for victims are frequently disrupted by authorities.
While Sri Lanka previously claimed to engage constructively with UN human rights mechanisms, it has rejected accountability measures and left multiple UN visit requests unaddressed.
HRW criticized the Dissanayake administration’s Online Safety Act, which grants broad powers to restrict freedom of expression. The previous government had misused the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) against dissenters, particularly targeting Tamil individuals, despite promises of a moratorium on its use.
Additionally, authorities are reportedly restricting access to religious sites for Hindus and other minorities in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, prompting rising tensions between communities.
The UN high commissioner noted that reprisals against families of the disappeared, who have sought justice, remain a significant concern. Many relatives fear threats aimed at other family members, including false accusations.
HRW urged the UN Human Rights Council to renew its monitoring mandate for two years to ensure continued international scrutiny of human rights violations in Sri Lanka. “The resolution is crucial for maintaining attention on this dire situation and upholding the principle of accountability for grave crimes,” Ganguly stated.
