The British Tamils Forum (BTF) and US Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) expressed their dismay at the presence of the former head of Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Division, Sisira Mendis at the UN Committee Against Torture meeting in Geneva on Tuesday as a representative of Sri Lanka, and called for his arrest on the basis of universal jurisdiction. 
“His attendance in Geneva deeply disrespects Sri Lanka’s torture victims and mocks the esteemed work of the Committee Against Torture," the groups said in a joint statement. 
“On the basis of universal jurisdiction, we call on the Swiss authorities to immediately detain and prevent Mr Mendis from leaving Switzerland until there is a thorough investigation into the serious charges of torture against him," USTPAC president Dr Karunyan Arulanantham  said. 
The general secretary of BTF, Ravi Kumar said, "the government’s brazen decision to send a known torturer to Geneva is a particularly egregious example of the culture of impunity that stubbornly persists in Sri Lanka. We strongly endorse the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ recommendation in September 2015 to establish a hybrid court for Sri Lanka with international judges, prosecutors, lawyers and investigators." 
"Mr Mendis’ participation in Sri Lanka’s torture review, and indeed the fact that he is now Director for National Intelligence, demonstrate that an internationalised court is needed now more than ever," the groups added.