On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Right to Life Human Rights Centre reaffirms its unwavering commitment to stand with survivors of torture, to advocate for justice and accountability, and to push for meaningful structural reforms that prevent future abuses.
This day, observed annually on June 26, was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1997, marking the date the UN Convention against Torture, Other Cruel Inhuman Degrading Treatment and Punishment came into force in 1987. It is a day to honour the courage and resilience of victims and survivors of torture and to remind governments of their obligations under international and domestic law to prevent and punish such grave violations.
In Sri Lanka, 2024 marks 30 years since the enactment of the International Convention against Torture, Other Cruel Inhuman Degrading Treatment and Punishment Act, No. 22 of 1994. Despite the presence of this law, torture continues to be practiced with impunity. It remains deeply entrenched in the operations of law enforcement agencies, and troublingly, its reach has expanded beyond state institutions.
According to information obtained by the Right to Life Human Rights Centre from the Attorney General’s Department under the Right to Information Act, as of January 8, 2024, only 115 cases have been filed in the High Courts under the Torture Act in the span of thirty years. This is despite thousands of complaints of torture being lodged with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) during this period. These figures reveal a disturbing pattern of non-enforcement and institutional apathy toward one of the gravest human rights violations.
The limited number of prosecutions, coupled with an even smaller number of concluded cases, reflects serious systemic shortcomings. Many of these cases remain unresolved for years due to delayed investigations, lack of transparency, and procedural inefficiencies. Investigations into torture, particularly those involving police officers, are routinely carried out by the police themselves creating a clear conflict of interest and undermining the credibility and integrity of the investigative process.
Worryingly, numerous defendants in torture cases have been discharged or acquitted, often without a full trial or the calling of defense evidence. This exposes critical weaknesses in case-building and prosecution, ultimately denying justice to victims and emboldening perpetrators.
In response to these realities, the Right to Life Human Rights Centre urges the Government of Sri Lanka to:
- Provide adequate technical and logistical support to all relevant courts, including the Supreme Court, to ensure torture-related cases are adjudicated promptly, independently, and effectively;
- Establish an independent and competent investigative body —separate from the police to handle all allegations of torture, particularly those implicating state actors;
- Ensure adequate compensation, psychosocial support, and rehabilitation for survivors, in line with international standards.
We are also deeply concerned about the growing normalization of torture-like practices in educational institutions, workplaces, and other civil settings, particularly through ragging, harassment, and degrading treatment. These acts, while often minimized or culturally tolerated, cause severe physical and psychological trauma and must be recognized as serious human rights violations.
Torture is a crime against humanity. It violates the very core of human dignity and cannot be justified under any circumstances. On this day, we call upon the Government of Sri Lanka, the National Police Commission, the Human Rights Commission, civil society, and international partners to act decisively and collaboratively to eliminate torture in all its forms.
Justice delayed is justice denied. It is time to honour the spirit and the letter of the law. The Right to Life and the right to be free from torture must be protected for every individual in Sri Lanka.
Right to Life Human Rights Centre
June 26, 2025