US concerned over alleged HR violations during ‘Yukthiya’ operation

• Law enforcement operations must adhere to principles of the rule of law  and due process. “Striking this balance is vital for justice and  maintaining public trust

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya 

The United States has echoed the concerns raised by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) regarding alleged human rights abuses in the recent ‘Yukthiya’ Operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Police and the Ministry of Public Security.  

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie J. Chung, emphasized the importance of combating drug trafficking while stressing that law enforcement operations must adhere to principles of the rule of law and due process. “Striking this balance is vital for justice and maintaining public trust,” she said.  

Earlier, the HRCSL expressed deep unease and initiated an immediate inquiry into reports of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment during search operations associated with the ‘Yukthiya’ Operation.  

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has also expressed serious concerns about the operation, emphasizing the contradiction between reports of widespread injustice and the operation’s title, ‘Yukthiya,’.