Sri Lanka’s opposition has sought the speaker’s intervention to publish the findings of an internal investigation into anti-Muslim violence in the highlands six years ago.
A documentary screened in Colombo to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture – ‘6 Years Since Digana Anti Muslim Riots: Whither Justice?’ – presenting compelling evidence of state complicity in the riots revealed that the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) is yet to release its report.
“The Human Rights Commission conducted an investigation on the 2018 Digana incident. It has been six years since then, honourable speaker, and the report is yet to be released. Therefore, I bring this to your attention so that you can look into this matter and make the report available,” Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahuman said in parliament on Friday (12).
Members to all the independent commissions including HRCSL are appointed by the Constitutional Council (CC) chaired by the speaker reminded the lawmaker.
Dr Deepika Udagama, the Commissioner who led the investigation as well as Dr. Gehan D Gehan Gunatilleke who is a current commissioner have acknowledged the delay in making the report public.
Following the screening of the documentary, Dr. Gunatilleke had told the BBC that HRCSL expects to release its findings and recommendations within this year.
