The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has expressed deep concern over alleged human rights abuses in the recent ‘Yukthiya’ Operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Police and the Ministry of Public Security.
In a release, it said the Commission is particularly disturbed by reports of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment during search operations, prompting an immediate inquiry into these claims.
The statement is as follows;
The ‘Yukthiya’ Operation, launched with the objective of combating drug trafficking and organized crime, has reportedly led to the arrest of over 20,000 suspects in just a two-week span from December 17 to December 31, 2023. While acknowledging the importance of addressing organized crime and narcotics trafficking, the Human Rights Commission has received numerous complaints of torture, inhumane treatment, arbitrary arrests, and detentions associated with the operation.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has also expressed serious concerns about the operation, and the Commission notes that the operation’s association with reports of widespread injustice contradicts its very title, ‘Yukthiya,’ meaning ‘justice’ in Sinhala.
The Commission emphasizes that every person in Sri Lanka has a fundamental right to be free from torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment under Article 11 of the Sri Lankan Constitution. This right is considered absolute and inalienable, and police officers are expected to uphold this right by treating suspects with dignity at all times.
The backdrop of these reports is a broader context where the Human Rights Commission has received over 200 complaints of torture in 2023 alone. Complicating matters, individuals accused of torture continue to hold office despite recent Supreme Court pronouncements finding them responsible and ordering compensation for victims.
On December 21, 2023, the Human Rights Commission wrote to the Honorable Attorney-General urging the prosecution of these officers. In response, dated December 28, 2023, the Attorney-General assured the Commission that “necessary steps have been taken by [the Attorney-General’s] Department” in cases where the Supreme Court directed action against those responsible for acts of torture.