Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Wednesday that despite promises of reform, Sri Lankan security forces continue to harass the families of enforced disappearance victims, using the country’s counterterrorism laws to stifle justice and accountability.

In its statement, the humanitarian organization highlighted that President Dissanayake’s administration, nearly a year into power, has done little to change entrenched patterns of repression. Families of those last seen in military custody still face ongoing threats and interference for their engagement with international processes, such as the UN Human Rights Council and the Sri Lanka Accountability Project.

The concerns raised by the organization are echoed by other international bodies and governments. Earlier this month, a recent report by the UN Human Rights Council found continued impunity for wartime abuses, noting that most families remain without answers. Intimidation by police and intelligence agencies persists in the Tamil Northern and Eastern Provinces, where inquiries into the whereabouts of loved ones are met with surveillance, questioning, and even pressure on their children.

Domestic reports reflect similar patterns. The 2024 US Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices documented harassment and intimidation of journalists, civil society actors, and ordinary citizens in the same regions. Media professionals faced threats and reprisals when reporting on sensitive issues, including enforced disappearances, while civil society actors working with victims were subjected to surveillance and interference by security agencies.

Sri Lanka’s judiciary system has previously attempted to acknowledge the dangers of unchecked custodial abuse. In a 2023 ruling by the country’s Supreme Court, police officers were found responsible for the custodial death of the petitioner’s husband. The Court rejected conflicting police accounts, affirmed that family members have standing to bring fundamental rights claims, and found violations of Article 12(1) (equal protection) and Article 13(4) (right to life).

Despite isolated efforts, HRW emphasized that the country’s history of abuse, coupled with ongoing intimidation, underscores the continued need for international oversight. The organization urged the Human Rights Council to renew its mandate for monitoring and evidence gathering on Sri Lanka, noting that domestic mechanisms for accountability have consistently fallen short. Without sustained international engagement, HRW warned, families of the disappeared risk remaining targets of repression, while those responsible for wartime atrocities continue to enjoy impunity.