UN Calls on Sri Lanka to End Impunity and Deliver Justice
- CNL Reporter
- August 19, 2025
- Political
- UN
- 0 Comments
The United Nations Human Rights Office has urged Sri Lanka to take decisive steps to address past violations and ensure accountability, describing the moment as a “historic opportunity” for reform.
A new report by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk calls on the government to acknowledge abuses committed by both state forces and non-state actors during the civil war, and to deliver justice to victims whose demands remain unmet. “Sri Lanka now needs a comprehensive roadmap to translate its commitments into results,” Türk said, following his recent visit to Colombo, Jaffna, Trincomalee, and Kandy.
The report recommends reforms to the security sector, constitution, and legal framework, alongside the establishment of a dedicated judicial mechanism with an independent special counsel. It also urges repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, release of long-term detainees, and return of military-occupied land in the north and east.
The UN expressed concern over continued intimidation of activists and families of the disappeared, as well as laws restricting freedoms of expression and assembly. It also highlighted the toll of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, urging creditors to provide fiscal space for social protections.
