The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, issued a stark warning to Sri Lanka, urging the country to break free from its troubled past and undertake significant reforms to protect fundamental freedoms and ensure accountability. His comments were delivered during an interactive dialogue at the Human Rights Council on Tuesday, where he expressed deep concerns over deteriorating democratic safeguards, ongoing human rights abuses, and rising economic hardship.
Türk highlighted a range of alarming developments over the past two years, including regressive laws, the erosion of checks and balances, and increasing harassment of civil society and journalists. “Sri Lanka stands at an important crossroads, and recent trends have raised serious concerns for the future,” he said, pointing to repeated violations such as arbitrary detention and torture. Without reforms, he warned, the country risks further backsliding.
Victims of past atrocities still await justice and accountability
In his address, Türk emphasized the continued suffering of Sri Lanka’s people, more than 15 years after the end of the country’s civil war. He lamented that victims of past atrocities still await justice and accountability. “Promises of a new beginning, demanded during the mass protests two years ago, remain largely unfulfilled,” he added, referencing the 2022 demonstrations that called for an end to corruption and power abuses.
The Human Rights Chief condemned the widespread sense of impunity that pervades Sri Lanka’s governance, noting that it hinders progress and enables ongoing violations. He cited emblematic cases such as the 2006 Muttur massacre, the killing of Tamil students in Trincomalee, and the 2009 murder of journalist Lasantha Eknaligoda, all of which have seen little to no justice. Additionally, he flagged concerns over Sri Lanka’s upcoming elections, stressing the importance of protecting rights to free expression and assembly throughout the electoral process.
Grant the country fiscal space to realize human rights obligations
Sri Lanka’s worsening economic situation also drew Türk’s attention, with poverty rates doubling between 2021 and 2023. Many households are being forced to choose between essential needs, such as food, healthcare, education, and energy. In this context, Türk called on the international community, particularly Sri Lanka’s creditors, to grant the country fiscal space to realize human rights obligations.
Expressing particular alarm over proposed laws that could restrict civic space, Türk pointed to the draft NGOs Registration and Supervision Bill, which would grant authorities broad powers to deny registration to civil society groups. “Such legislation carries major risks for Sri Lanka’s civic space,” he said, noting that reports of harassment, intimidation, and abuse by security forces continue unabated.
Türk urged the Sri Lankan government to acknowledge the grave violations committed during the civil war
and to pursue justice, accountability, and reconciliation in earnest. “A clear, public change in the narrative would help re-establish trust in the authorities and address the deep polarization in the country,” he said, adding that failing to deal with the past risks sowing the seeds for future conflicts.
As Sri Lanka prepares for key elections later this year, Türk emphasized the urgent need for constitutional, legal, and institutional reforms to strengthen democracy and deliver justice. He also called on the UN and its member states to continue pushing for accountability and to support Sri Lanka in its journey toward peace.
“My Office is not here to point fingers, but to lend a hand,” Türk concluded. “The people of Sri Lanka have experienced too much distress for too long. It is time to break the destructive cycle and begin a journey toward a just and sustainable future for all.”
