Newsroom

We put a human face on complex issues to hold governments accountable.

Below you’ll find breaking news as well as reports, updates on our campaigns, and victories.

If you are a member of the press, please reach out to [email protected]

Sheet of paper Report

Sri Lanka: Inquiry into armed conflict fundamentally flawed

Thousands of civilians were killed and other serious human rights violations committed during Sri Lanka’s decades-long internal conflict, particularly during the final months. The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) is the latest in a log line of failed domestic mechanisms putatively aimed at securing justice in Sri Lanka. In this report Amnesty International examines the many failures of the LLRC’s proceedings. The organization is calling for an international, independent investigation that can deliver truth, justice and reparations to the thousands of victims of violations committed during Sri Lanka's bloody war.

September 6, 2011

Press Release

Repressive Laws Remain Despite End to State of Emergency in Sri Lanka, Says Amnesty International

The Sri Lankan government must follow up its repeal of the state of emergency by removing repressive legislation such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Amnesty International said today.

August 26, 2011

Sheet of paper Report

Annual Report: Sri Lanka 2011

Head of state and government: Mahinda Rajapaksa Death penalty: abolitionist in practice Population: 20.4 million Life expectancy: 74.4 years Under-5 mortality (m/f): 21/18 per 1,000 Adult literacy: 90.6 per cent   The Sri Lankan government failed to effectively address impunity for past human rights violations, and continued to subject people to enforced disappearances and torture and other ill-treatment. The authorities imposed severe restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association. Thousands of Tamil people suspected of ties with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) remained detained without charge. Both sides in the conflict that ended in May 2009 have…

June 20, 2011

Press Release

Sri Lanka must not torture rejected asylum seekers

The Sri Lankan authorities must refrain from any ill-treatment of a group of rejected asylum seekers who arrived in Colombo on Friday after being forcibly returned from the UK, Amnesty International said.

June 17, 2011

Press Release

Amnesty International Says Sri Lanka Must Not Torture Rejected Asylum Seekers

The Sri Lankan authorities must refrain from any ill-treatment of a group of rejected asylum seekers who arrived in Colombo on Friday after being forcibly returned from the United Kingdom, Amnesty International said.

June 17, 2011

Sheet of paper Report

Forgotten prisoners: Sri lanka uses anti-terrorism laws to detain thousands

Forgotten prisoners: Sri lanka uses anti-terrorism laws to detain thousands Available in PDF only

May 12, 2011

Press Release

UN must act now on Sri Lanka war crimes report

A UN report out today gives credibility to claims that both sides committed war crimes in Sri Lanka's civil war.

May 6, 2011

Press Release

Sri Lanka: United Nations Report on Sri Lanka Conflict Must be Made Public, Says Amnesty International

Amnesty International Media Release For Immediate Release Tuesday, April 12, 2011United Nations Report on Sri Lanka Conflict Must be Made Public, Says Amnesty InternationalContact: AIUSA media relations office, 202-509-8194(Washington, D.C.) -- A United Nations (U.N.) report on accountability for war crimes committed in the Sri Lankan armed conflict must be made public, Amnesty International said today as a panel of experts submits their findings to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon."Sri Lankans must be allowed to see the panel’s findings. The report concerns a critical period in their recent history and they deserve to read it in full," said Sam Zarifi,…

May 6, 2011

Press Release

UN must act now on Sri Lanka war crimes report

A UN report out today gives credibility to claims that both sides committed war crimes in Sri Lanka's civil war.

May 6, 2011

Press Release

Sri Lanka: United Nations Report on Sri Lanka Conflict Must be Made Public, Says Amnesty International

Amnesty International Media Release For Immediate Release Tuesday, April 12, 2011United Nations Report on Sri Lanka Conflict Must be Made Public, Says Amnesty InternationalContact: AIUSA media relations office, 202-509-8194(Washington, D.C.) -- A United Nations (U.N.) report on accountability for war crimes committed in the Sri Lankan armed conflict must be made public, Amnesty International said today as a panel of experts submits their findings to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon."Sri Lankans must be allowed to see the panel’s findings. The report concerns a critical period in their recent history and they deserve to read it in full," said Sam Zarifi,…

May 6, 2011

Press Release

Sri Lanka: Amnesty International Calls on Sri Lankan Government to Act on Enforced Disappearance

Well-known human rights defender Pattani Razeek disappeared on February 11, 2010 in Sri Lanka's North Central Province....

March 27, 2011

Press Release

Sri Lanka: Amnesty International Calls on the United States to Investigate Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapksa During his Surprise Visit to the United States

Amnesty International Press ReleaseFor Immediate ReleaseWednesday, January 19, 2011Amnesty International Calls on the United States to Investigate Sri Lankan President Mahinda RajapksaDuring his Surprise Visit to the United States Contact: AIUSA media relations office, 202-509-8194(Washington, D.C.) The United States should investigate Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapksa, who arrives on a surprise visit to the United States today, for his alleged role in perpetrating torture and war crimes, Amnesty International said today. Rajapaksa reportedly left Sri Lanka early Wednesday morning with a delegation of 20 bound for the United States."The United States has an obligation under international law to investigate and prosecute…

March 27, 2011