Maithripala Sirisena's surprise victory in Sri Lanka's 2015 presidential elections brought hope of an end to human rights abuses in the country. This was wracked by a brutal 26-year civil war that pitted government forces against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) or more popularly known as the Tamil Tigers.
However, separate reports by the UK-based Freedom from Torture and the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) documented continuing human rights violations including abductions, torture and severe sexual abuse perpetuated by Sri Lankan police and security forces.
The International Truth and Justice Project Sri Lanka documented 20 cases in 2015 all involving sexual violation and severe torture of Tamils with tenuous links to the LTTE along with their families. Most of these victims with past links with the LTTE had thought that it was safe to return to Sri Lanka or to come out of hiding and return to their homes. Almost all of the victims were members of the LTTE though almost all foot soldiers forcibly conscripted by the LTTE.
The Guardian quoted Yasmin Sooka as saying that "it was very much business as usual." She said that the notorious white vans as still operating, referring to the vehicles used by security forces during the arrest or abduction of LTTE members. Sirisena is under pressure because of these continuing human rights abuses. International investigations indicate that the inquiries set up by the government of Sri Lanka were ineffectual and were, in fact, partisan. A 220-page, two-volume report by the UN High Commission on Human Rights found that both the government and the LTTE had most likely committed war crimes.
Another NGO, the UK-based Freedom from Torture which offers medical aid to survivors of torture, documented eight incidents of torture since Sitisena's election in a report cited by the Sunday Times of Sri Lanka. Again, all victims are Tamils and the alleged perpetrators are elements of Sri Lanka's military or intelligence services.
Sonya Sceats, director of policy and advocacy for Freedom from Torture, said Sirisena's promise of reconciliation premised on requiring accountability for serious human rights abuses was a welcome change. But she also said that Sirisena must match his rhetoric with actions to prosecute human rights violators.
