The former Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has denounced the country’s key institutions as fundamentally broken, warning that deep-rooted dysfunction in governance and justice systems is perpetuating a cycle of human rights abuses and public distrust.
Speaking at a public dialogue in Colombo, the former commission head, Prof. Deepika Udagama, criticized the chronic weaknesses within institutions such as the Police Commission and the Attorney General’s Department, emphasizing that the persistence of disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and impunity are not isolated failings—but products of systemic collapse.
“If these institutions were functioning as they should, we wouldn’t even need to have this conversation,” she said, expressing frustration over the absence of proper investigations and accountability.
She stressed that true institutional reform starts with leadership. “We must focus on strengthening institutions. And that begins with who we appoint to lead them. Leadership is critical. If those in charge possess the right knowledge, integrity, and commitment, even flawed institutions can be transformed.”
Prof. Udagama also pointed to a worrying pattern of instability, highlighting that several key posts—such as the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Prisons—are currently held by acting officials. This, she argued, is symptomatic of a broader erosion of governance capacity.
In closing, she warned that unless Sri Lanka confronts these deep institutional weaknesses head-on, the nation will remain stuck in a repeating loop of crises.
“This isn’t just bureaucratic inefficiency—it’s a dangerous fragility that risks the future of justice and democracy in Sri Lanka,” she said.
