A New York-based human rights group is calling on the prime minister to retract some comments he made during a recent visit to Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Human Rights Watch Australia say Tony Abbott's comments appeared to be condoning the use of toture during the years of Sri Lanka's civil war.
 

The group's Australia Director Elaine Pearson told Andi Yu, Mr Abbott needs to clarify Australia's stance on torture. (SBS)