UN Calls for Justice in Sri Lanka Aid Worker Killings

The experts said previous domestic investigations were weakened by missing evidence, poor witness protection, and political interference.

Twenty years after the killing of 17 humanitarian workers in the Sri Lankan town of Muttur, United Nations human rights experts have called on the Sri Lankan government to take immediate action by reopening or reactivating an independent investigation and ensuring justice for the victims' families. The experts said the case remains one of the country's most serious unresolved attacks on humanitarian personnel and continues to leave families without answers or accountability.

The victims were employees of the international aid organisation Action Against Hunger (ACF), which was providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services to civilians trapped in conflict. On August 4, 2006, the workers were found dead inside their compound, with most suffering gunshot wounds to the head during intense fighting between the Sri Lankan Army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Families Still Waiting for Justice

UN experts said multiple international investigations, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Investigation on Sri Lanka released in 2015, found reasonable grounds to believe members of Sri Lanka's security forces were responsible for the killings. Even with these findings, no one has been arrested, prosecuted, or convicted for the massacre.

The experts said previous domestic investigations were weakened by missing evidence, poor witness protection, and political interference. They also pointed to the withdrawal of the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons in 2008, which cited a lack of political commitment to achieving accountability.

Humanitarian Impact Extended Beyond the Victims

The deaths of the aid workers affected far more than their families. Action Against Hunger had been one of the last international organisations still operating in the area, providing services that many displaced families depended on for survival. The disruption of water treatment, food distribution, agricultural assistance, and sanitation projects exposed more than 325,000 vulnerable people to unsafe drinking water, disease, and worsening food insecurity during a critical period of the conflict.

The UN experts said attacks on humanitarian workers damage relief efforts and place civilians at even greater risk by limiting access to essential services when they are needed most.

Concerns Over Growing Risks for Aid Workers

The experts warned that failing to punish those responsible sends a dangerous signal around the world. They noted that 2025 became the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel, with more than 1,000 aid workers killed globally between 2023 and 2025. They said continued impunity in cases such as the Muttur massacre contributes to a wider pattern of violence against aid workers.

The UN has urged Sri Lanka to launch a prompt, independent, impartial, and effective investigation, provide full reparations to the victims' families, and protect people wishing to mark the 20th anniversary of the killings. The experts also confirmed they remain in contact with the Sri Lankan government as they continue to press for accountability and justice.