UN welcomes Lanka’s anti-graft drive, seeks end to impunity

High Commissioner Volker Turk of the UN human rights chief expressed satisfaction with Sri Lanka's strong anti-corruption drive in his latest report to the UN Human Rights Council. However, he stressed that the government must also address the issue of impunity for ongoing rights abuses. The report highlighted that cases of torture and deaths in custody persisted despite the change of administration.

Turk noted that while there were encouraging steps taken against corruption, more needed to be done to end the long-standing issue of impunity in the country. The report covered the period from October 2025 to July 2026 and documented 602 cases of torture and ill-treatment in 2025, 138 cases by April 2026, and 18 deaths in custody last year.

The local commission also reported three additional deaths in custody by April this year. Turk expressed disappointment that the government had not delivered on its promise of legal and institutional reforms and continued to apply the repressive Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), leading to arbitrary arrests and prolonged detention without charge.

The report also highlighted that civil society actors, activists, and journalists faced state surveillance, while tensions over land and religious sites remained a concern. There were also at least 16 allegations of surveillance against these groups, including questioning about their travels and organizational affiliations. Turk urged Sri Lanka to redouble its efforts towards reconciliation and accountability, calling for a moratorium on the use of the PTA pending its repeal and the release of long-term detainees held under it.

He also urged the government to support victims' memorialization initiatives and to release military-occupied lands.