Both Sri Lanka and Germany have recently elected new leaders, but ongoing human rights issues are expected to be a key topic when Chancellor Friedrich Merz meets with President Anura Kumar Dissanayake in Berlin on June 11.
The civil war between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) lasted from 1983 to 2009, during which both sides committed numerous abuses, including killings, torture, and sexual violence. In the final months of the conflict, government forces attacked civilians and disappeared suspected combatants.
Following the defeat of the LTTE, several United Nations Human Rights Council resolutions have underscored the need for accountability and established an evidence-gathering process. However, Dissanayake’s administration appears similar to previous governments by protecting former officials implicated in war crimes and rejecting these resolutions.
Dissanayake was elected in September with promises to unite Sri Lankans and address an economic crisis. Despite holding a large parliamentary majority, his government has not tackled ongoing human rights violations or advanced justice for past atrocities.
Sri Lankan agencies continue to discriminate against Tamil and Muslim minorities by seizing their land under various pretexts. In areas affected by war, hardline Buddhist monks and security forces have converted Hindu temples into Buddhist monasteries.
Since 2017, Sri Lanka has benefited from a trade relationship with the European Union known as GSP+, providing tariff-free market access in exchange for implementing conventions on human rights, labor rights, and environmental standards. Yet Sri Lanka is not fulfilling its obligations. A significant issue is the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which has enabled torture and arbitrary detention targeting Tamils and Muslims. Although Dissanayake promised before his election to repeal this law—a promise made repeatedly since 2017—his government continues to use it without evidence of terrorism.
Germany once played a leading role in the Human Rights Council’s resolution on Sri Lanka but withdrew around 2022. To maintain pressure for accountability and ensure continued evidence gathering, renewing this resolution later this year is crucial.
Merz should leverage UN efforts and GSP+ ties during his meeting with Dissanayake in Berlin to press for accountability pledges and human rights reforms. Such diplomatic opportunities should not be overlooked.
