The Movement for the Protection of Civil and Political Rights has presented an urgent appeal to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk, during his recent visit to Sri Lanka.
The appeal demands the establishment of an international accountability mechanism to address ongoing human rights violations in the country. It urges the UN Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution at its upcoming 60th session, calling for immediate action to ensure justice for victims of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed during the Sri Lankan civil war.
The letter underscores the necessity of swift international investigations and prosecutions related to mass graves discovered in Chemmani, Kokku Thoduwai, Mannar Sathosa, and Thiruketheeswaram.
Highlighting years of state-sponsored injustice, the appeal condemns the continued illegal seizure of Tamil lands in the Northern and Eastern provinces and demands an end to these forced acquisitions. It also calls for the release of long-term political prisoners and the repeal of repressive laws such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), the Online Safety Act, and the Public Security Ordinance.
Furthermore, the document stresses the urgent need for justice for survivors of sexual violence and denounces the ongoing culture of impunity surrounding these crimes. It strongly criticizes state-supported Sinhala-Buddhist campaigns that threaten ethnic and religious harmony and undermine Sri Lanka’s pluralistic society.
The appeal was signed by leading legal experts including K.S. Ratnavel, V. Buvitharan, N. Kandipan, M. Jude Dinesh, V.S. Niranjan, Sugandhi Rajakulendran, and Ranitha Gnanaraj, as well as Catholic clergy and civil rights activists from the Northern and Eastern provinces.
The document renews the Tamil community’s demand for meaningful political autonomy and accuses the government of failing to enact constitutional reforms to ensure genuine power-sharing. It emphasizes that only structural changes, supported by international oversight, can foster true reconciliation and safeguard human rights for all Sri Lankans.
