The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the largest tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka caring for patients with mental illness. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) received several complaints regarding how patients were being handled by the staff, the use of restraints on patients, and the manner of obtaining patients’ consent at the NIMH.

In July 2023 there was a death of a patient at the NIMH that was suspected to have been caused by support staff attempts to restrain him. In addition to the court proceedings that are currently ongoing, the Human Rights Commission is also conducting  an investigation into this incident. Considering the above the Human Rights Commission initiated a fact-finding mission to the NIMH.

Download:

HRCSL Press Notice 11122023 E iii

HRCSL Interim Report – Fact-Finding Mission on Right to Health and Liberty of Patients at NIMH