News
Legacy of the past presents daunting challenge for new government, says UNHRC Chief
View(s):By Tharushi Weerasinghe
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, engaged in several high-level discussions with government representatives during his four-day visit to Sri Lanka. However, government sources said no new agreements or renewed commitments were made on accountability or legal reforms. Ongoing reviews that began before his visit and align with the High Commissioner’s findings are expected to continue.
Volker Türk addressing a news conference. Pic by Indika Handuwala
Mr. Türk travelled across the country from 23 to 26 June, the first such visit by a UN Human Rights Chief since February 2016. During his visit, High Commissioner Türk met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, and held discussions with several high-level government officials, including Foreign Affairs, Justice, Public Security, and Defence ministers. He also met the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice, and other senior representatives.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday to mark the end of his visit, Mr. Türk expressed gratitude for the government’s ‘cooperation’ and ‘genuine openness to address complex issues.’
The HC also commented on key controversial Acts and called for a moratorium on the use of the highly controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Online Safety Act, and amendments to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act in order to align it with international law.
A committee is currently formulating a new anti-terror law with a bill slated to come to the Cabinet by September. The Online Safety Act is also under review by a committee between the Ministry of Mass Media, the Ministry of Justice and the Sri Lanka Police. Between September 2024 and May 2025, 12 people have been arrested and detained under the PTA.
The MMDA continues to permit the marriage of girls under the minimum age without their consent – a long-standing point of conflict that many activists claimed was inadequately represented during the government’s representations at the CEDAW meetings earlier this year.
Commenting on the state of reconciliation, justice for the disappeared, and the mass graves that are being discovered in the North and East, with Chemmani being the latest, he added that the “legacy of the past presents a daunting challenge for the new government.”
“I followed and have been encouraged by the speeches of the President over the past few months in which he has publicly recognised the shared pain and grief of individuals from all communities,” he added, noting that it was important to translate this ‘momentum’ into tangible results for truth.
He also noted that while there are encouraging signs of space opening up for memorialisation, longstanding issues such as the surveillance of human rights defenders persisted.
He added that acknowledgement, justice, and truth-telling remain essential, particularly as the absence of credible domestic accountability has led many Sri Lankans to seek justice through international avenues. Responding to questions on the UN’s historically critical stance on domestic mechanisms, the High Commissioner emphasised the importance of functional systems, including the creation of an independent prosecutor and a credible domestic accountability process.
He noted that his Office has been mandated to gather, preserve, and analyse information on violations and abuses, and has established a dedicated project to support future accountability efforts both in Sri Lanka and internationally. Support has also been extended to help ensure these mechanisms are victim-centred and aligned with international standards.
While human rights are a global concern, the High Commissioner stressed that the responsibility lies with the state, and that national ownership is vital, with international support serving a complementary role.
“We shared our views, but no conclusions were reached at these discussions,” said Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nananyakkara on Friday. He noted that he disagreed with the term “government accountability mechanisms” as governments were, by default, supposed to be accountable. “We currently have the Office on Missing Persons, which no doubt needs to have its efforts expedited, the Office for Reparations, and the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation, which is currently formulating a roadmap for more cohesive reconciliation.”
The Minister also acknowledged that progress on the MMDA had halted, but that a note has been sent to Cabinet to revive the review committee and that he would intervene to start deliberations in approximately two weeks. “Actions concerning the PTA and OSA were started long before the High Commissioner’s visit and will continue,” he added.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Colombo, Mr. Türk met with national reconciliation institutions — the Office on Missing Persons, the Office for Reparations, and the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation — and was briefed on their work. He also met with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and acknowledged its longstanding contributions.
Outside the capital, he visited Jaffna, Trincomalee, and Kandy, where he met religious leaders, civil society, political parties, Governors of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, District Secretaries, and members of the public. He also visited the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, the Nallur Kovil in Jaffna, and the Chemmani grave site.
A press release from the President’s Media Division stated that the issue of missing persons was discussed in great detail. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that, as a political movement that has directly faced the experience of missing persons, his administration has a deep understanding of their pain.
The release also stated that the President emphasised that his government is fully committed to implementing the necessary reforms to ensure national unity, foster reconciliation, and safeguard human rights across the country.
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