colombo unite nations friday urge sri lankan government urgently implement reform end war-time arbitrary detention strengthen independent monitor tough legislation sri lanka use 1979 prevention terrorism act pta pursue tough line prevent aid abet terrorism island nation long conflict tamil tiger rebel legislation give wide power police arrest suspect without inform immediate family restrict access lawyers allow detention 18-months without charge war end 2009 government repeal pta though promise end arbitrary detentions many ethnic minority tamils arrest pta complain years detention without charge u.n. ask sri lanka repeal draconian law introduce internationally acceptable law government say begin move replace pta process introduce new legislation effective safeguard arbitrariness context urgent need strengthen mechanisms independent monitor oversight leigh toomey member un work group arbitrary detention tell reporters colombo conclude 11-day mission say identify significant challenge right personal liberty sri lanka result arbitrary detention across country work group also say attention draw loss liberty among socially vulnerable children women elderly people people psycho-social problems poor sri lanka criticism right group slow progress commitments make un human right council follow u.n. resolution call post-war reconciliation investigation allege war crimes sri lanka end 26-year-civil war crush separatist liberation tigers tamil eelan 2009. unite nations right group accuse military kill thousands civilians mostly tamils final weeks conflict tamil tigers also accuse widespread abuse war use child soldier target civilians suicide bombers november european lawmakers say disappoint sri lanka slow roll-out human right reform promise exchange trade concessions u.n. right watchdog 2016 call sri lanka investigate document allegations torture rape detainees security force rein broad police power u.n. committee torture describe continue report abductions deaths custody poor condition detention use force confessions court u.n. ask urgent reform end arbitrary detention sri lanka