By The Pulseline News Desk
Sri Lanka has concluded a significant visit by the United Nations (UN) Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT), with the UN delegation acknowledging the government’s cooperation, unrestricted access to detention facilities, and stated commitment to preventing torture and ill-treatment.
The 10-day mission, held from 15 to 24 June 2026, marked the SPT’s second official visit to Sri Lanka since the country acceded to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) in 2017. The visit forms part of an ongoing international mechanism aimed at strengthening safeguards against torture through regular inspections of places of detention and constructive dialogue with national authorities.
At the conclusion of the visit, the four-member delegation presented its preliminary observations during a debriefing with government representatives, commending Sri Lanka’s facilitation of unhindered access to detention centres and the cooperation extended throughout the mission.
The delegation also acknowledged the country’s stated commitment to preventing torture and other forms of ill-treatment, while its final confidential report, expected at a later stage, is likely to include recommendations for further strengthening legal and institutional safeguards.
High-level political engagement
The visit began with meetings between the SPT delegation and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath and Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara.
During discussions on 15 June, both ministers reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards torture and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to protecting human rights and engaging constructively with UN treaty bodies.
The meetings reflected the government’s broader effort to demonstrate its willingness to cooperate with international human rights mechanisms while advancing domestic legal and institutional reforms.
Whole-of-government participation
A notable feature of the mission was the broad participation of state institutions responsible for law enforcement, justice, rehabilitation and social welfare.
Senior officials representing a wide range of ministries and agencies met with the SPT delegation during a high-level session co-chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism and the Ministry of Justice and National Integration.
Representatives from the Ministries of Public Security, Defence, Health, Women and Child Affairs, Rural Development, the Attorney General’s Department, Sri Lanka Police, the Department of Prisons, the Department of Probation and Child Care Services, the Department of Immigration and Emigration, the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board and the Bureau of Rehabilitation outlined legislative, administrative and institutional reforms currently underway to strengthen safeguards against torture.
Officials also briefed the delegation on ongoing policy initiatives intended to improve detention standards and ensure compliance with Sri Lanka’s obligations under international human rights conventions.
Independent institutions also consulted
In keeping with its preventive mandate, the SPT also held discussions with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), which functions as the country’s National Preventive Mechanism under OPCAT.
The delegation additionally met members of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and representatives of civil society organisations, enabling the experts to obtain perspectives from both state institutions and independent stakeholders.
Such consultations are a standard component of SPT missions, allowing the body to assess not only detention conditions but also the broader legal, judicial and institutional framework designed to prevent torture.
A continuing international process
The delegation was headed by Aisha Shujune Muhammad of the Maldives and included experts Jakub Julian Czepek of Poland, Anica Tomsic of Croatia and Nika Kvaratskhelia of Georgia. Officials from the SPT Secretariat in Geneva accompanied the team.
The visit follows the SPT’s inaugural mission to Sri Lanka in April 2019 and reflects the country’s ongoing engagement with the UN’s preventive monitoring system established under OPCAT.
Unlike investigative human rights missions, the SPT’s role is preventive rather than accusatory. Its experts conduct confidential visits to places where people are deprived of their liberty, assess existing safeguards, and recommend practical measures to reduce the risk of torture and ill-treatment.
For Sri Lanka, the latest mission provided an opportunity to present progress made since the previous visit while demonstrating continued engagement with international human rights mechanisms.
Although the delegation’s preliminary observations recognised the government’s cooperation and commitment, the forthcoming confidential recommendations are expected to guide future reforms aimed at strengthening oversight, improving detention conditions and reinforcing protections for persons deprived of their liberty.
As Sri Lanka continues to navigate its post-crisis governance and human rights agenda, the visit underscores the importance of sustained dialogue between national institutions and international monitoring bodies in promoting accountability, transparency and the prevention of torture.
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