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A report by the International Truth and Justice Project Sri Lanka (ITJP) has levelled extensive allegations of human rights violations against retired Sri Lankan army commander Daya Ratnayake, linking him to abuses carried out during both the armed conflict and its aftermath.
The report outlines alleged violations spanning two distinct phases. These include unlawful killings of civilians during military operations in the Eastern Province, as well as widespread abuses within post-war “rehabilitation” centres where thousands of Tamils were detained.
According to the report, Daya Ratnayake is alleged to have been involved in “a wide range of human rights violations and war crimes during his service in the army”, including “unlawful killings of civilians”, “arbitrary detention, torture (including sexual violence), enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions”.
The allegations trace back to the military campaign in the Eastern Province between 2006 and 2007, when Sri Lankan forces launched large-scale operations to retake territory.
During this period, government forces are accused of directing attacks against civilians using heavy weaponry, including artillery and air strikes. One such attack cited in the report involved the shelling of a school in Vakarai that was sheltering displaced civilians.
The report states that the Sri Lankan military had knowledge of the presence of large numbers of civilians in these areas yet proceeded with attacks that resulted in significant casualties.
Ratnayake, who served as General Officer Commanding of the 23 Division at the time, is described as playing a central role in these operations. The report highlights his leadership in key offensives across the Eastern Province and notes that he held command positions in strategic areas including Vakarai and Thoppigala.
It further states that he was aware of the presence of tens of thousands of displaced civilians in conflict zones and of the use of heavy weapons such as multi-barrel rocket launchers.
Despite this, the report argues that he failed to take measures to prevent or halt violations, raising concerns over command responsibility under international law.
‘Rehabilitation’ centres as sites of abuse
Following the end of the armed conflict in 2009, thousands of Tamils were detained in what the Sri Lankan state termed “rehabilitation” centres.
However, the report asserts that these facilities functioned as sites of arbitrary detention, with detainees held without charge or trial, often for prolonged periods.
It states that these centres were “in reality arbitrary detention sites with little to none ‘rehabilitation’ activities”.
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Testimony gathered from witnesses describes widespread torture and sexual violence within these facilities. Reported methods of abuse include beatings, waterboarding, suffocation, and rape, alongside psychological torture and degrading treatment.
The report also documents enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions, with some detainees never seen again after being held in these centres.
In addition, detainees were allegedly subjected to forced labour, including manual work and employment in factories under coercive conditions. Women detainees, in particular, faced sexual exploitation and harassment.
The report further highlights the lack of transparency surrounding the detention system, noting that detainees were frequently moved between facilities, making it difficult for families to trace their whereabouts. It also points to attempts to conceal abuses, including cleaning facilities ahead of inspections and instructing detainees not to speak to external visitors.
Even after release, former detainees reportedly faced continued harassment and surveillance by security forces, with some subjected to re-arrest and further abuse.
Ratnayake later served as Commissioner General of Rehabilitation, placing him in charge of the very system under which these abuses are alleged to have occurred.
The report states that he was responsible for overseeing detention and rehabilitation processes, including decisions on the duration and nature of detainees’ confinement.
Witness testimony cited in the report indicates that many individuals detained during his tenure were subjected to torture and other forms of ill-treatment.
Given his senior role, the report argues that he had effective control over the system and either knew or should have known about the violations taking place.
Despite the scale and severity of the allegations, the report underscores the continued lack of accountability for abuses committed during and after the armed conflict. It situates these violations within a broader pattern of impunity, where senior military figures continue to hold public roles despite longstanding allegations of serious human rights abuses.
Read the full text of the report here.