A/HRC/34/54/Add.2 I. Introduction 1. The Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Juan E. Méndez, conducted a visit to Sri Lanka from 29 April to 7 May 2016, at the invitation of the Government, jointly with the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, 1 to assess recent developments and identify challenges faced in the eradication of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, while promoting accountability and fulfilling victims’ right to reparations. 2. The Special Rapporteur expresses his appreciation to the Government for its willingness to undergo an independent and objective scrutiny of its human rights situation, in particular in relation to a number of critical issues pertaining to its counter-terrorism legislation and criminal justice system. He wishes to reiterate his appreciation to the Government for its full cooperation before and during the visit, in particular the efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the programme. He would also like to thank the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the United Nations in Sri Lanka for supporting the visit, and all those who shared their expertise, opinions and experiences, despite concerns either for their own safety or for that of their families. 3. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur met with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Defence; the Ministry of Law and Order; the Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs; the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs; the Ministry of Health; the Office of the Attorney-General; the National Police Commission; the National Human Rights Commission; the United Nations; the diplomatic community; international organizations; and civil society. He also met the Governor of Eastern Province, and torture survivors and their families. 4. The Special Rapporteur also conducted visits to numerous police stations, detention facilities and military camps throughout the country. In Southern Province, he visited Boossa prison, the Boossa Terrorism Investigation Division detention facility and Galle Fort military camp; in Western Province, the Kalutara South Senior Superintendent’s Office and Panadura police station; in North Western Province, Puttalam and Kalpitiya police stations; in Northern Province, Joint Operational Security Force headquarters (“Joseph camp”), Vavuniya remand prison, Vavuniya police station, the Vavuniya Terrorism Investigation Division office and Poonthotam rehabilitation centre; and in Eastern Province, Trincomalee Naval Base. In Colombo, he visited the Criminal Investigation Department and Terrorism Investigation Division facilities (commonly known as the fourth and sixth floors), the Welikada prison complex and Borella police station. 5. Unrestricted access to these detention facilities was granted to the Special Rapporteur and his team, in accordance with the terms of reference for fact-finding missions by special rapporteurs (E/CN.4/1998/45, appendix V). However, the Special Rapporteur notes with concern that a number of detainees reported that they had been warned not to speak to the delegation about their treatment in detention, and were reluctant to do so as a result. 6. The Special Rapporteur shared his preliminary findings with the Government of Sri Lanka at the conclusion of his visit, on 7 May 2016.2 1 2 The mission report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers will be submitted to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-fifth session. See www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=19943&LangID=E. 3