UN Urges Sri Lanka to Break Cycle of Impunity and Deliver Justice for Past Violations
GENEVA – The UN human rights office on Wednesday urged Sri Lanka’s government to seize what it described as a “historic opportunity” to end entrenched impunity and deliver justice for serious past violations, including international crimes.
The call came alongside the release of a report following UN human rights chief Volker Turk’s official visit to Sri Lanka, where he met with government officials, civil society, victims’ groups, and visited Trincomalee, Jaffna, and Kandy.
Turk emphasized that the country now stands at a crossroads, with leadership pledging to address long-standing issues such as justice for victims, rule of law restoration, and ending discrimination and divisive politics. He called for a comprehensive roadmap to translate these commitments into tangible results.
The report recommended sweeping reforms, including security sector restructuring, constitutional and legal amendments, and adherence to international human rights standards. It called for official acknowledgment of violations by state forces, the LTTE, and other parties during the civil war, as well as concrete measures to alleviate the ongoing suffering of victims. Specific proposals included establishing a dedicated judicial mechanism with an independent special counsel, releasing military-held lands in the north and east, repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), and freeing long-term PTA detainees. While welcoming the government’s plan to create an independent public prosecutor’s office, the report noted ongoing intimidation of civil society and families of the disappeared, alongside continued PTA use despite promises to repeal it.
The UN also highlighted the deep impact of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis on human rights, urging international creditors to provide fiscal space for the country to safeguard basic protections. According to Turk, these measures are essential to realizing the government’s vision of “national unity” and preventing a recurrence of past abuses. The report concluded that without decisive action, Sri Lanka risks missing a rare chance to move beyond its troubled legacy.
