A UN Human Rights Council report covering October 2025 to July 2026 acknowledges Sri Lankan Government progress on corruption and war-crimes investigations but warns that continued use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, documented torture cases, and surveillance of civil society undermine accountability efforts.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report on Sri Lanka's human rights situation, scheduled for presentation to the UN Human Rights Council on 7 September. The report recognizes government action against corruption and high-profile investigations into political killings, enforced disappearances, and the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, alongside efforts to manage challenges from Cyclone Ditwah and global energy price increases.
However, the report identifies persistent concerns despite institutional reform pledges. According to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, 602 cases of torture and ill-treatment were documented in 2025, with 138 additional cases recorded by April 2026. The report also noted 18 deaths in custody in 2025 and three more by April 2026, including a case at Welikada Prison where a 40-year-old detainee died following alleged severe beatings. Prison violence escalated in July with riots at Negombo Prison resulting in at least 32 deaths, highlighting overcrowding and systemic dysfunction.
The UN report identifies the Prevention of Terrorism Act as a primary concern, citing its use in arbitrary arrests and prolonged detentions without charge. The UN Human Rights Office documented at least 16 allegations of state surveillance targeting civil society actors, activists, and journalists, with individuals reported to face questioning about travel to Geneva, UN engagement, funding sources, and participation in protests.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk acknowledged recent progress, including indictments against former Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakathan and others regarding the 2006 murder of Eastern University Vice Chancellor Professor Subramanian Ravindranath. However, Türk expressed concern that numerous emblematic cases remain stalled, citing the 2006 killing of 17 Action Contre La Faim aid workers in Muttur. He called for a moratorium on the Prevention of Terrorism Act pending repeal, release of long-term detainees held under it, exclusion of credibly accused human rights violators from senior government and security positions, and renewed commitment to conflict-era accountability across all parties.