Demand the Official Release of Batalanda Commission report to the Parliament of Sri Lanka

 

 

You can read the full report using this link ->  

The Batalanda Commission was established in 1995 to investigate allegations of unlawful detentions and torture at the Batalanda Housing Scheme during the 1987–1989 JVP insurrection. The commission's findings reportedly implicated several individuals, including prominent political figures, in serious human rights violations. 

Despite the gravity of these findings, the commission's report has not been officially presented to Parliament or made accessible to the public. This lack of transparency impedes accountability and undermines public trust in our institutions.​

In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe denied the existence of the Batalanda Commission report, stating that it was neither tabled in Parliament nor officially recognized. This highlights the urgent need for the government to clarify the status of the report and ensure its findings are publicly available.​ 

We, the undersigned, call upon the Government of Sri Lanka to:​

• Officially present the Batalanda Commission report to Parliament: Ensure that the report is formally tabled and discussed in Parliament to promote transparency and legislative oversight.​
• Make the report publicly accessible: Publish the full report on official government websites and ensure it is available in public libraries and other accessible platforms for all citizens to review.​
• Implement the commission's recommendations: Take appropriate legal and administrative actions based on the findings to hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations and prevent future occurrences.​

Transparency and accountability are fundamental principles of a democratic society. Releasing the Batalanda Commission report is a crucial step toward acknowledging past injustices and reinforcing public trust in our institutions.​

We urge the government to act promptly in releasing the report and addressing its findings.

Here are some recommendations in the report in SINHALA: