Sri Lanka is once again under the global human rights spotlight as the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) approaches. With mounting momentum for the adoption of a resolution targeting the country’s human rights record, questions remain over how the newly elected National People’s Power (NPP) government will respond.
Despite assurances to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), tangible steps towards implementation are yet to be seen. With its two-thirds parliamentary majority and the absence of coalition constraints, the government holds a rare opportunity to introduce policies addressing grave crimes against humanity. This mandate spans both public and private sectors, enabling the government to take measures that could genuinely serve the welfare and interests of all Sri Lankans.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath is expected to lead Sri Lanka’s delegation to Geneva, delivering the government’s official statement during the session from 8 September to 8 October. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk will present his report, Situation of Human Rights in Sri Lanka, based on observations from his June visit, which included meetings with key stakeholders and visits to mass grave sites such as Chemmani. His findings are expected to shape the Council’s deliberations and influence the scope of any resolution adopted.
Reports suggest that the United Kingdom and Canada are preparing to table a resolution addressing Sri Lanka’s human rights record, adding to diplomatic pressure on the NPP administration. In parallel, Tamil political parties from the north and east have called for an international resolution, urging the UNHRC, the UN General Assembly, the UN Secretary-General, and the UN Security Council to initiate an accountability process for alleged crimes committed during the 1983–2009 civil war and the 1988–1989 Marxist insurrection. They have requested that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recommend referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In their appeal, Tamil political leaders rejected any language in the resolution that would grant the NPP government political space or time to pursue domestic accountability mechanisms. They cited the unfulfilled promises of the 2015 administration under President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, warning that the current government, elected in September 2024, appears to be offering similar assurances without credible prospects for delivery.
The letter stressed the need for independent oversight and international supervision, particularly in relation to the recently uncovered Chemmani mass grave. It argued that forensic standards, preservation of evidence, and admissibility in international criminal proceedings demand strict monitoring, which the government alone cannot guarantee.
The Tamil leaders also urged the OHCHR report to address pressing concerns, including militarisation, the expansion of Sinhala-Buddhist settlements, land appropriation, the continued enforcement of the PTA, and the new Online Safety Act. They asserted that these measures enable surveillance, suppress dissent, and target human rights defenders and victim support groups, thereby restricting freedom of expression and curtailing accountability. The appeal was signed by senior Tamil politicians, including G.G. Ponnambalam, Selvam Adaikalanathan, and P. Ayngaranesan, representing major Tamil political entities.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State’s 2024 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Sri Lanka highlighted persistent attacks against journalists and an ongoing lack of accountability. Although the constitution guarantees freedom of expression and press freedom, the government has at times restricted these rights. Both the UN OHCHR and U.S. reports documented a pattern of intimidation, harassment, and surveillance targeting journalists and civil society activists, particularly those reporting on enforced disappearances, land disputes, environmental concerns, and issues related to former combatants in the north and east.
Authorities have applied hate speech laws selectively, often tolerating speech against Muslims while acting against other groups. Media outlets have reported threats, intimidation, arrests, and home visits. Civil society organisations have accused the government of misusing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act and penal code provisions to silence critics. Physical assaults, surveillance, and threats of imprisonment have created a climate of fear for journalists covering sensitive topics.
Incidents include harassment of Tamil journalists in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, where military officers demanded access to photographs, attendee lists, and source information. Journalists have feared reprisals for reporting on war commemoration events or land disputes. On 21 February, the army allegedly threatened three Tamil journalists with confiscation of phones while covering a gathering in the “High-Security Zone” in Jaffna. In June, freelance journalist Thambithurai Pradeepan suffered vandalism and property damage exceeding one million rupees, with no meaningful progress in the police investigation.
Legal pressures, including threats of slander lawsuits despite the offence not being criminalised, have fostered self-censorship, particularly among smaller outlets. The arrest of G.P. Nissanka, editor of Ravana Lanka News, in March 2024 under the Computer Crimes Act and police ordinances illustrated the continued use of legal instruments to suppress investigative reporting.
The Online Safety Act (OSA), passed in January 2024 to curb disinformation and online harassment, has been criticised for enabling government overreach. Civil society and technology experts have warned that the law could stifle dissent, undermine press freedom, and compromise privacy. In November 2023, the Supreme Court ruled over half of the OSA unconstitutional, requiring revisions that had yet to be implemented by year’s end.
Extrajudicial killings and custodial deaths remain serious concerns. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) reported seven custodial deaths between January and August 2024, while police records noted 103 targeted shootings. The U.S. report highlighted cases such as the arrest and death of former army commando Kalahara Dilshan, raising concerns over police conduct.
Civil society organisations have also reported instances of involuntary sterilisation among marginalised Tamil plantation workers, disproportionately affecting impoverished communities. Some procedures were allegedly carried out without informed consent, prompting ethical and legal concerns.
While no new enforced disappearances by government authorities were reported, little progress has been made in investigating cases from the civil war or earlier Marxist insurrections. Families of missing persons remain frustrated by delays and lack of government responses. The OHCHR criticised the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) for prioritising administrative functions over thorough investigations, noting that such practices retraumatise victims. Fifteen mass graves remain under investigation, primarily in the north and east, including the Kokkuthoduvai site in Mullaitivu, where forensic analysis revealed skeletal remains of former LTTE cadres, predominantly women, some showing evidence of violent death. High-profile cases such as the “Navy 11” abductions remain unresolved.
Sri Lankan law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, yet thousands of complaints were filed with the HRCSL between January and August 2024, including PTA-related cases. Many detainees were held incommunicado, with lawyers requiring police permission to meet clients. Reports of mistreatment, torture, and prolonged pretrial detention remain widespread, exacerbated by judicial inefficiency and corruption. As of September, 42 individuals remained detained under the PTA, including Tamils linked to LTTE activities and Muslims connected to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
Torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment persist despite legal prohibitions. Between January 2023 and March 2024, the HRCSL recorded 2,845 complaints of torture and 675 complaints of degrading treatment. The commission conducted extensive visits to police stations and prisons, established a Rapid Response Unit, and operated a 24-hour hotline. Nonetheless, impunity remains entrenched, with minimal accountability for security officials.
Other concerns include the practice of female genital mutilation in some Muslim communities, child marriage under the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act, and the lack of protection for refugees as UNHCR phases out operations in the country.
While press attacks and human rights violations are a global concern, the UNHRC and U.S. reports offer a stark assessment of Sri Lanka’s current human rights climate. Ignoring these allegations could lead to international repercussions. The country’s trajectory will depend largely on whether its authorities commit to investigating killings, abuses, and violations affecting all communities. Failure to act risks deepening the human rights crisis and inviting intensified international scrutiny.