By IANS
Colombo : Sri Lanka is facing "a situation of lawlessness of epidemic proportions", says the Asian Human Rights Commission, adding that graft too had reached unprecedented levels.
The group said in a statement that there were widespread abductions and forced disappearances, crime in all areas of life, violence in civil society and direct violence against alleged criminals.
It also said that in public life corruption had reached levels "which have never been witnessed before".
"The insecurity that is experienced by everyone, including those who hold powerful positions and even high ranking police officers for their own safety, has reached colossal heights.
"What makes this picture even bleaker is that even the limited action to bring about some corrective measures … has been abandoned.
"Furthermore, the government has virtually abandoned the responsibility for the maintenance of law and order and seemingly does not even have the capacity to control the situation."
The rights group said it had been pointing out for a decade that there was a fundamental failure of policing in Sri Lanka.
It said that in relation to law and order, the government seemed neither willing nor capable of dealing with crime.
At the same time, it said, the government was unwilling to deal with any crimes attributed to the military and paramilitary forces.
"Dealing with epidemics requires drastic strategies, and if that fails the whole society can suffer in ways beyond imagination," it said.