International human rights organizations have intensified their calls for the UN Human Rights Council to continue its close monitoring of Sri Lanka's human rights landscape. This pressing appeal aligns with the upcoming 60th session of the council, which evaluates the adherence of member states to global human rights standards annually.

Leading rights groups including Amnesty International, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, Human Rights Watch, and the International Commission of Jurists have specifically urged for the extension of the Sri Lanka accountability initiative spearheaded by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). They criticize Sri Lanka’s recent governmental actions, or lack thereof, in establishing an independent body to prosecute those responsible for human rights abuses and international crimes. Issues highlighted span from inadequate protection for victims and witnesses, to insufficient efforts in reconciling with the Tamil community, and the non-repeal of stringent counterterrorism legislation.

The push for continued international oversight is not without precedent. Earlier incidents this year, including the targeting of photojournalist Kanapathipillai Kumanan for exposing the Chemmani mass graves, have spotlighted the ongoing challenges faced by journalists in the country. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has also noted failures in addressing custodial deaths, random arrests during drug operations, surveillance of activists, and unresolved cases of enforced disappearances.

The plight of Sri Lanka's minority communities, particularly the Tamil population, remains a significant concern. Despite the end of the nearly three-decade-long conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), both sides have been implicated in human rights violations against Tamil civilians. Recent reports reveal that abductions and torture of Tamil civilians by security forces are still occurring.

In their collective statement, the organizations also highlighted the urgent need for the Sri Lankan government to abolish the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act, described by Amnesty International as "draconian". The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism advocates for a holistic transitional justice approach to replace the act, emphasizing the need for trust-building, due process, and effective remedies.

The Human Rights Council first mandated the OHCHR in March 2021 to monitor the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, with renewals in October 2022 and October 2024. The upcoming session will be critical, as the mandate is set to expire unless renewed, emphasizing the pivotal moment for international engagement in Sri Lanka's human rights trajectory.