Despite promises of reform, Sri Lankan security forces continue to harass the families of enforced disappearance victims, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). The organization has warned that the current administration, led by President Dissanayake, has made little progress in changing entrenched patterns of repression. Families of those last seen in military custody still encounter threats and interference, especially when engaging with international bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council and the Sri Lanka Accountability Project. For more on this, visit JURIST.
The persistence of these issues has been echoed by international organizations and governments. A recent report by the UN Human Rights Council highlighted ongoing impunity for wartime abuses, noting that many families remain without answers. Tamil Northern and Eastern Provinces, in particular, have seen continued intimidation by police and intelligence agencies. Inquiries about the whereabouts of disappeared loved ones often lead to surveillance and questioning, with pressure even extending to family members’ children.
Domestically, similar patterns of harassment are documented. The 2024 US Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices noted the intimidation of journalists, civil society actors, and ordinary citizens in these regions. Media professionals covering sensitive issues like enforced disappearances faced threats and reprisals, while those working with victims encountered surveillance and interference from security agencies.
Sri Lanka’s judiciary has occasionally recognized the dangers of unchecked custodial abuse. In a 2023 Supreme Court ruling, police officers were held accountable for the custodial death of a petitioner’s husband, rejecting conflicting police narratives. This decision affirmed that family members have standing to bring fundamental rights claims, acknowledging violations of equal protection and the right to life under Articles 12(1) and 13(4).
Nevertheless, HRW emphasized that the country’s history of abuse, combined with ongoing intimidation, demonstrates the need for continued international oversight. The organization has urged the Human Rights Council to renew its mandate for monitoring and evidence gathering in Sri Lanka, highlighting the consistent inadequacies of domestic accountability mechanisms. Without sustained international engagement, HRW warns that families of the disappeared remain at risk of repression, allowing those responsible for wartime atrocities to avoid consequence.