A coalition of human rights organizations has issued a public letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ahead of their scheduled visit to Sri Lanka from June 23 to 26, 2025. The letter emphasizes the importance of continued international scrutiny and accountability in addressing human rights violations in Sri Lanka.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has been involved with Sri Lanka for nearly two decades, following a resolution by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in 2012. This involvement came after successive Sri Lankan governments failed to uphold pledges made to the international community regarding justice and reparation.
The letter highlights concerns about the current government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, noting that it has shown little political will to address past promises since coming into power. Despite pledges for justice and accountability, issues such as enforced disappearances related to past conflicts remain unresolved.
The organizations urge that the High Commissioner’s visit should not be used by the Sri Lankan government as an opportunity to end UNHRC’s mandate on monitoring human rights progress. They emphasize that “OSLAP has gathered thousands of pieces of information, many of which could be used as evidence in future prosecutions.”
Patterns of human rights violations continue despite previous reports highlighting these issues. The Prevention of Terrorism Act remains in use, leading to arbitrary detentions. Additionally, there are ongoing land appropriations affecting Tamil communities in northern and eastern regions.
The letter calls on the High Commissioner to “stand in solidarity with victims, survivors and their families,” urging public calls for accountability from the Sri Lankan government. It also requests support for OSLAP’s mandate and insists on international standards for any proposed measures toward truth and reconciliation.
Signatories include Amnesty International, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists, and The Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice.
