UNHRC Report Makes Note Of Mahinda And Ranil

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's worst-ever economic crisis resulted in human rights challenges driven by corruption and fraud, according to the latest report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The report states that as a consequence, only a very limited share of the country's revenue has been available for social welfare expenditure.

The report also refers to the widely discussed SriLankan Airlines Airbus transaction and its connection to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as well as investigations relating to the alleged misuse of public funds involving former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The 63rd Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council commenced today in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to the ADVANCED report, 49.38 percent of Government revenue in Sri Lanka's 2026 Budget has been allocated for the payment of interest on debt.

The report further notes that when debt repayments are combined with interest payments, 82.59 percent of Government revenue is required to meet debt obligations.

In such a situation, the report states that only between 1.9 percent and 2.4 percent of Sri Lanka's Gross Domestic Product has been allocated to social protection programmes.

According to the High Commissioner's report, 49.38 percent of Government revenue in the 2026 Budget has been allocated solely for interest payments on outstanding debt.

The report notes that while Sri Lanka is committing a significant portion of Government revenue to servicing debt, only a small amount remains available for health, education and social protection programmes targeting poor and vulnerable communities, amounting to between 1.9 percent and 2.4 percent.

The report also states that rising energy, food and fertilizer prices could place additional pressure on Sri Lanka at a time when public finances remain constrained.

It further notes that since the end of last year, Sri Lanka has implemented anti-corruption measures through legal reforms, institutional strengthening, investigations and prosecutions.

However, the report points out that practical challenges still remain in effectively implementing those reforms.

Meanwhile, the report states that the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has initiated numerous investigations and notes that the name of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa appears in relation to investigations connected to the SriLankan Airlines Airbus transaction.

The latest report of the United Nations human rights body also refers to investigations relating to alleged misuse of public funds involving former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

These observations are contained in the report submitted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ahead of the current session of the Human Rights Council.