UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk met with National People’s Power (NPP) leaders in Colombo to discuss critical issues including the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), investigation into missing persons, and the need for a domestic mechanism aligned with international standards to address past human rights violations.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, met with leaders of Sri Lanka’s National People’s Power (NPP) this week at the JVP headquarters in Battaramulla. The high-level discussions centered on repealing the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), uncovering the fate of missing persons, and ensuring human rights protections for all Sri Lankans.
During the meeting, NPP leaders including JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva and NPP General Secretary Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe emphasized their party’s commitment to ending racism, upholding democratic freedoms, and implementing a system where no future violations of human rights would be tolerated.
The delegation also included prominent NPP ministers Bimal Ratnayake, Upali Pannilage, and Saroja Paulraj. They conveyed to the UN that a future NPP-led government would actively work toward reconciliation and justice through Sri Lankan-led initiatives, focusing on national unity and accountability.
UN officials in attendance included UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche, Asia-Pacific Chief of the UN Human Rights Office Rory Mungoven, and other senior UN representatives.
In a media briefing held during his Sri Lanka visit, Türk reiterated his call for the establishment of a domestic accountability mechanism one that aligns with international human rights norms and benefits from global expertise and support. He stressed that such a system is essential to address the country’s legacy of unresolved abuses.
The High Commissioner also urged the immediate repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and raised concerns over the Online Safety Bill, citing its potential impact on freedom of expression.
The meeting marks a significant moment of engagement between Sri Lanka’s opposition leadership and the international human rights community, signaling renewed momentum for legal reforms, transparency, and reconciliation.
