The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) convened a Follow-Up Meeting on the Implementation of the Concluding Observations of the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) on 19 June 2026 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

The meeting brought together senior officials from key government institutions, including the Attorney General’s Department, the Office on Missing Persons (OMP), and the Office for Reparations, together with representatives of civil society organizations, victim groups, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and other stakeholders. Commissioners and senior officers of the HRCSL also participated in the discussions, which focused on progress achieved and challenges encountered in implementing the recommendations contained in the CED’s Concluding Observations on Sri Lanka.

Mr. Nimal G. Punchihewa, Commissioner of the HRCSL delivered the opening remarks and provided a historical perspective on enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka. Dr. Gehan Gunatilleke, Commissioner of the HRCSL, outlined the key observations and recommendations issued by the Committee on Enforced Disappearances.

The meeting also featured perspectives from victims and their families. Mr. Brito Fernando, Founder and Chairperson of Families of the Disappeared (FoD), and Rev. Fr. S. Jeevaratnam, Director of the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, Kilinochchi, shared their experiences and highlighted the continuing concerns of those affected by enforced disappearances. Ms. Laila Nazarali, Senior Human Rights Adviser at the OHCHR, presented the United Nations’ perspective on enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka and emphasized the importance of implementing the Committee’s recommendations in line with international human rights standards.

The programme concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Gehan Gunatilleke. The panel comprised Mr. Brito Fernando, Ms. Laila Nazarali, Rev. Fr. S. Jeevaratnam, and             Ms. Sulari Liyanagama, Legal Officer of the HRCSL. The discussion provided an opportunity for participants to exchange views on measures required to strengthen the implementation of the CED recommendations and to address the concerns of victims and their families.

The deliberations offered valuable insights into the historical context of enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka, the recommendations of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances, the perspectives of victims and their families, and the views of the United Nations. More importantly, the discussions underscored the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in advancing truth, justice, accountability, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence, while reaffirming the importance of sustained engagement and cooperation in addressing the issue of enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka.