This document provides an overview of AI’s concerns in Sri Lanka since the beginning of 1993. During this period thousands of people, including prisoners of conscience, were arbitrarily arrested and hundreds of political prisoners remained in detention without trial for over two years. Torture and ill-treatment in custody continued and over 25 “disappearances” were reported. Political killings were reported in both the northeast and the south, though at lower levels than in previous years. Reports continued of harassment and deaths threats to journalists. Violations by the LTTE were also reported. Although some measures to improve the human rights situtation were taken by the government, impunity for human rights violators remained a major obstacle to the long-term improvement of human rights.
