UN Subcommittee to Submit Confidential Torture Prevention Report

23-Jun-2026

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Representatives of the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, currently on a nine-day official visit to Sri Lanka, are expected to submit a confidential preliminary report to the government based on their field observations.

The four-member delegation arrived in Sri Lanka on June 15 and conducted surprise inspections of prisons and police stations across the country to assess detention conditions.

The visit aims to evaluate Sri Lanka's progress in preventing torture since the committee's previous visit in 2019.

A high-level meeting was held last week at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya and senior prison officials.

During the discussions, UN representatives raised a number of issues related to torture prevention, while the Sri Lankan side outlined reforms introduced since the National People's Power government assumed office in late 2024.

According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the preliminary observations will be submitted confidentially to the government and the national preventive mechanism under Article 16 of the Convention Against Torture.

A final report containing detailed recommendations will be prepared later. Under international procedures, the report can only be made public with the consent of the Sri Lankan government.