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UN experts press Sri Lanka on disappearances, arbitrary detentions and intimidation at Geneva review

Published

6 months ago

2025/10/2

Sri Lanka faced sustained scrutiny in Geneva as the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) concluded its first examination of the island’s record under the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance last week, Tamil Guardian reported.

Experts welcomed the transposition of the Convention into domestic law but raised pointed questions about arbitrary detentions, “short-term” disappearances, intimidation of victims’ families and long-standing impunity.

Opening the dialogue, Committee Vice-Chair and Country Co-Rapporteur Olivier de Frouville said Sri Lanka “had been particularly affected by enforced disappearance,” citing waves of cases in the 1980s and 1990s and “throughout the conflict period until 2009.” He acknowledged steps taken since ratification, including the 2018 statute and the establishment of the Office on Missing Persons (OMP), describing the law as “a good transposition of the Convention.” However, he noted “several cases of arbitrary detention and ‘short-term’ disappearances reported in recent years, including cases of people being taken in white vans and held in secret detention for extended periods.” He asked, “How did the State ensure that the police enforced the zero-tolerance policy for such detentions?”

Country Co-Rapporteur Carmen Rosa Villa Quintana focused on the treatment of families. “The families of victims of enforced disappearance were reportedly threatened with intimidation or surveillance by the State and, in some cases, police had refused to accept complaints,” she said. “How did the State party ensure that victims’ families could submit complaints without fear of reprisals?” She added that Sri Lanka now had “an opportunity to progress and recognise all the rights of victims,” and urged action on access to information, protection measures and effective remedies.

Committee members also pressed for specifics on accountability. De Frouville asked whether Sri Lanka would recognise the Committee’s competence to receive individual complaints, and sought updates on cases sent to the High Court, the effectiveness of habeas corpus, and access to police and military archives. He queried the status of earlier recommendations to prosecute perpetrators and raised the issue of presidential pardons, asking how the State was “tackling impunity.” Villa Quintana asked how authorities respond when “perpetrators of enforced disappearance had been identified but not brought to trial,” and what measures were in place “to fight impunity” when officials accused of involvement were appointed to senior posts.

The Committee pursued questions on mass graves, data systems and the independence of institutions. Villa Quintana asked about the preservation of remains, DNA databases and whether Sri Lanka had sought international assistance for exhumations, noting reports of sites in the North-East and the long-running Chemmani case. The delegation replied that “all investigations of mass graves were carried out with judicial oversight,” that international standards were being implemented, and that exhumed remains were held by judicial medical officers. On Chemmani, they said “remains were ready for forensic investigations or exhumations,” and added that five Army personnel had been arrested in connection with bodies recovered there.

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Former Minister Mahinda Wijesekara passes away aged 83

Published

15 hours ago

2026/04/2

Priyan

Former Matara District Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister Mahinda Wijesekara has passed away this morning (02) at the age of 83 family sources have announced.

Mahinda Wijesekara served as a Member of Parliament for the Matara district for over two decades (1989 to 2010), representing the People’s Alliance, the United National Party and the United People’s Freedom Alliance.

He held several ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Postal and Telecommunication Services in 2008, Minister of Forestry and Envioronment 1999-2001, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources from 2001 to 2004 and Minister of Special Projects 2007-2008

He was in poor health following injuries sustained in the 2009 bomb attack by the LTTE terrorists in Godapitiya, Matara.

He was the father of former Minister Kanchana Wijesekara.

News

Navy seize 323kg of heroin from fishing vessel in southwestern seas

Published

17 hours ago

2026/04/2

Priyan

In a decisive strike against the drug menace, the Sri Lanka Navy intercepted a local multiday fishing trawler carrying a staggering haul of suspected narcotics in the seas southwest of the island.

This operation, carried out under the national mission “A Nation United”, resulted in the apprehension of six suspects (06) and the seizure of the trawler used to smuggle the illicit substance.

Following the mid-sea interception, the trawler was escorted to the Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour on the morning of 01 Apr 2026. A meticulous inspection conducted by the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) subsequently confirmed that the sacks (19) aboard contained more than 323kg of heroin.

The Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, accompanied by the Commander Western Naval Area and the Director General Operations, visited the Dikowita harbour to personally inspect the drug haul.

Addressing the media, the Navy Commander emphasized that these intensified surveillance efforts are carried out under the direct guidance of the Ministry of Defence. He highlighted that the Navy and the Sri Lanka Coast Guard have strategically coordinated operations across the island’s maritime zones to disrupt trafficking routes and ensure national security.

The Commander of the Navy stated that through surveillance operations conducted this year, the Navy has intercepted local multi-day fishing trawlers attempting to bring illegal substances. This has enabled the seizure of a large quantity of narcotics intended to be smuggled into Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, based on foreign intelligence received by the Sri Lanka Navy, continuous surveillance operations carried out off the Beruwala sea area over the past few days led to the recent (01 April) successful operation, he opined.

The Naval Chief stated that so far this year, 07 local multi-day fishing trawlers have been apprehended by the Navy. The street value of the narcotics seized from these boats is estimated to be approximately Rs. 40 billion.

The 06 suspects, the fishing trawler, and the seized heroin were handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau for comprehensive investigation and onward legal proceedings.

News

PM opens ‘Silver Age Center,’ an Elder Care, Training and Research Centre built with modern facilities in Kataragama

Published

21 hours ago

2026/04/2

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that a society must be built where all senior citizens can lead lives of safety, freedom, happiness, health, mobility, and spiritual well-being, with their rights safeguarded. She further emphasized that this is a responsibility shared by both the government and society.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on Tuesday (31st of March) while virtually participating in the opening of the ’Silver Age Center,’ an Elder Care, Training and Research Centre constructed with modern facilities in Kataragama. The event was held at the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, located in the new Sethsiripaya building.

During the event, the Prime Minister was presented with a draft of regulations and guidelines related to the regulation of institutions that provide residential care for senior citizens, by representatives of the National Council for Senior Citizens.

Expressing her views further, the Prime Minister stated:

“This project, which commenced in 2022, had been halted due to various reasons. However, we have now resumed the project and are pleased to hand it over to the public today.

One of the key commitments of our policy is to create a society that ensures safety and protects the rights of all. Everyone, from the young to the elderly, deserves to enjoy these rights, freedom, and happiness.

A significant portion of our population is rapidly transitioning into senior age. However, the age of 60 still represents an active stage of life where individuals can contribute meaningfully to society and the economy. Senior citizens have needs, as well as abilities and valuable experience. We must recognize that they can continue to engage with society and remain active contributors.

Institutions that provide services for senior citizens play a vital role, and maintaining them is a social responsibility. It is essential to ensure the rights and provision of necessary services for all senior citizens, whether they live within families, independently, or in institutional settings.

We must ensure access to healthcare, transportation, lifelong learning, freedom, happiness, and spiritual well-being for senior citizens, while safeguarding their rights.

We should move beyond the traditional concept of ’elders homes’ and instead develop institutions that cater to the diverse needs of senior citizens, enabling them to spend their later years with dignity and respect.”

The opening of the ’Silver Age Center,’ Elder Care, Training and Research Centre, was carried out by Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, R. M. Jayawardhana, along with regional public representatives and government officials. The occasion was attended virtually by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Dr. Upali Pannilage; Secretary to the Ministry, Sampath Manthrinayake; and other ministry officials.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)