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Supreme Court Rules Torture by Payagala Police Violated Fundamental Rights

Colombo, Sri Lanka — In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court has ruled that the fundamental rights of a young man arrested by Payagala Police in 2012 were violated, affirming serious allegations of custodial torture and unlawful detention. The case concerns Levwanduwa Withanage Sameera Sampath, a 24-year-old resident of Katukurundugahalanda, Pothuwila, Payagala, who was arrested on January 27, 2012, while on his way to sell vegetables at the Katukurunda Market. According to the petition filed before the Court (SCFR/127/12), Sameera Sampath was detained for two days and subjected to severe…

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Negombo High Court Sentences Three PNB Officers to 7 Years for Torture

Negombo, Sri Lanka — The Negombo High Court has sentenced three officers attached to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) to seven years of rigorous imprisonment each for the brutal assault and torture of a suspect during a drug raid. The judgment was delivered by High Court Judge Kavindya Nanayakkara on the 13th. The convicted officers include Sub-Inspector Asanga Ramesh Amarasinghe and Police Constables Aruna Dinesh and Thilina Udayanga. Court proceedings revealed that the incident occurred in November 2018. The victim, Seeni Mohammad Nauker Nadeep, had been arrested along with his…

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17-Year-Old Killed in Police Firing at Van in Kayts

February 10 – A 17-year-old boy was killed after police opened fire on a van driving recklessly near Allapiddy Junction in the Kayts Police Division. Police stated that officers had signaled a suspicious van to stop, but the vehicle sped towards Mandativu, ignoring orders. A Kayts police jeep was dispatched to intercept the van. According to authorities, initial warning shots were fired into the air when the van did not stop. When the vehicle continued, police fired at the van to bring it to a halt. The driver, identified as…

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Custodial Death at Kandeketiya Police Station

  Colombo, November 3 – The death of a 46-year-old man while in the custody of the Kandeketiya Police has triggered renewed concerns over the safety of detainees and the persistent lack of accountability within Sri Lanka’s law enforcement system. The deceased has been identified as Navaratne Mudiyanselage Ajantha Pushpakumara, a resident of Meegahakiula. According to official reports, Mr. Pushpakumara was arrested on court-issued warrants. He reportedly fell ill while detained at the Kandeketiya Police Station and was subsequently admitted to the Kandeketiya Divisional Hospital. His condition necessitated a transfer to…

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Calls for Justice as Kandana Police Accused of Torture and Illegal Detention

  Colombo, October 3 – Justice Demanded for Alleged Torture and Illegal Detention by Kandana Police Colombo. Serious allegations have emerged against the Kandana Police for violating basic rights, raising urgent calls for accountability. This not only violated the basic rights of the individual and criminal laws, but also ignored the recommendations from the Hon. Supreme Court and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, as well as the circulars issued by the Inspector General of Police. Thilina Chanaka Fernando, 34, a resident of Suduwella, Ja-Ela, was reportedly unlawfully arrested…

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SLCAT Urges President to Dismiss Police Officers Involved in Torture of Minor

The Sri Lanka Collective Against Torture (SLCAT) has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to take quick action against police officers found guilty by the Supreme Court of violating fundamental rights. This includes the torture of a child. On World Children’s Day, SLCAT sent a letter calling for the immediate removal of the officers involved in the Supreme Court case SC/FR/87/2023. The Court determined that the former Acting Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Hatharaliyadda Police Station was responsible for the unlawful arrest, torture, and detention of a 16-year-old boy. SLCAT emphasized that…

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