President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed retired Supreme Court Judge Vijith Malalgoda as the new Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL).
According to the President’s Media Division, four other members have also been appointed to the Commission: S.Y.M. Gomes, A.L.A. Azeez, Dr. S.S.S.B.D.H. Jayawardena, and Professor T. Jayasingam.
The letters of appointment were officially handed over by Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, at the Presidential Secretariat on 30 October 2026.
These appointments follow the completion of the terms of office of the Commission’s previous members.
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka is an independent national institution responsible for promoting and protecting fundamental rights, investigating complaints of human rights violations, and making recommendations to strengthen human rights protection in the country.
The appointment of the new Chairman and members marks a transition in the Commission’s leadership, with its continued independence and effectiveness remaining essential to ensuring accountability and safeguarding human rights in Sri Lanka.