Issuing its world report for 2006 on Wednesday, HRW says that this "alarming rate" owed to to the killing of "particularly of Tamils in opposition to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam".

	Under fire

Stating that "respect for human rights has been seriously eroded" over the past year in several Asian countries, HRW particularly names Nepal, Cambodia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and China,

"Tamil Tigers continued to assassinate political opponents with complete impunity," accuses HRW.

Noting that the December 2004 tsunami "wrought tremendous destruction," particularly to the areas already most affected by the country's protracted civil war, HRW says "sectarian interests hijacked aid distribution mechanisms".

Police impunity

The HRW report also says that the Sri Lankan police "continue to enjoy great impunity".

According to this report, since February 2002 Ceasefire agreement, "an estimated two hundred Tamils have been killed for apparently political reasons. Most of the killings have been attributed to the LTTE."

The HRW blames the security forces for extra judicial killings. "While some cases of deaths in custody and torture have been investigated, no one has been prosecuted or punished as yet," the report adds.

Releasing another report on the human rights situation in ten Asian countries The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) reiterated the allegation by saying, "the Sri Lankan police are granted further impunity to commit abuses".

Without a functioning National Police Commission, AHRC say "criminal elements within the police will be encouraged to blatantly flout legal and disciplinary provisions, while complainants receive threats and intimidation".

Judicial system "Rubbish"

AHRC also says that the new president has yet to put in action any strategies to reform the justice institutions.

"A start can be made by implementing the recommendations of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee against Torture."

Basil Fernando, executive director of the Hong Kong-based regional rights body, launching the report said, "When the entire country knows that our judicial system is rubbish the idea of enforcement of human rights standards is ridiculous,"