Author: editor

Principal Assaults 12-Year-Old Student, Resulting in Severe Spinal Injury

editor

In a disturbing incident at Hambantota Debokkawa Maha Vidyalaya, Principal Malaka Weeravarnakula violently attacked a 12-year-old student, causing a severe spinal cord injury. The altercation began when the student, who served as the class monitor, did not clean the classroom trash. Witnesses reported that Principal Weeravarnakula grabbed the student by the ear, dragged him out of the classroom, and struck his neck twice, leading to significant damage to the student’s neck bones. The student was rushed to Embilipitiya General Hospital, where staff allegedly pressured him and his guardians, accusing them…

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Nurse Wins Fundamental Rights Case Against Surgeon for Assault

editor

  In a landmark judgment delivered today, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Madhavi Buddhika Rajaguru, a nurse who filed a case against Ashoka Wijemanne, a consultant surgeon, for assaulting her with a bone cutter at Kurunegala General Hospital. The court held that Wijemanne had violated Rajaguru’s fundamental right to be free from cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. As a result, Wijemanne has been ordered to pay Rs. 50,000 in compensation to Rajaguru. Additionally, the State has been directed to pay her Rs. 10,000 within the next three months.…

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Panadura High Court Hears 12-Year-Old Custodial Death Case

editor

A case filed under the Convention Against Torture And Other Cruel, Inhuman Or Degrading Treatment Or Punishment Act, concerning the death of Dasanayake Nimal Chandrasiri Appuhami in police custody, is currently being heard at the Panadura High Court. The incident dates back to 2012 when Nimal Chandrasiri was allegedly beaten while in custody at the Wadduwa Police Station. Nimal Chandrasiri, a 43-year-old fisherman and father of three, was arrested on April 15, 2012, at his residence on 25 Fisherman’s House, Ratnayake Mawatha, South Talpitiya, Wadduwa. In 2017, his death while…

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Police Brutality: 55-Year-Old Man Tortured by Embilipitiya Police

editor

A shocking incident of police brutality has emerged from Embilipitiya, where a 55-year-old man was subjected to severe torture by police officers. Susil Vitaranage, a father of two from Sevanagala, Kiriwewa, Nugegala Yaya, Katuwana Yaya No. 55, was the victim of this horrific ordeal. On the 28th of this month, while working in his paddy field, Vitaranage was approached by three men in a white car who claimed to be from the Southern Province Anti-Corruption Unit. They told him they were taking him to Tangalle to record a statement. Vitaranage…

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SLCAT Hosts Consultative Meeting on PTA and Torture Prevalence Research

editor

On June 14th, the SLCAT consultation meeting convened at 1 PM at Hotel Nippon, drawing active participation from its members. The agenda focused on upcoming research initiatives, particularly on the PTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) and the prevalence of torture in police custody and higher education institutions. The meeting facilitated productive discussions, underscoring the commitment to address and analyze these critical human rights issues.    

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Police Officers Arrested in Connection with Disappearance 13 Years Ago

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Two police officers serving at Alawwa Police were arrested on May 4, 2024, by officers from the Group Robbery Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with a suspected disappearance and unlawful detention that occurred 13 years ago. The arrested officers are Sergeant A.L. Kumara and Constable R.D.S.B. Rajapaksha. Both officers were produced before the Polgahawela Magistrate’s Court and were released on bail of Rs. 50,000 each. The incident, believed to have occurred around July 25, 2010, also led to the arrest of Chief Inspector Saman Kumara…

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Tamil MP Demands Arrest of Traffic Police Over Motorcyclist’s Death in Jaffna

editor

A Tamil MP has demanded the immediate arrest of two traffic policemen in connection with the death of a motorcyclist in Urumpirai, Jaffna, on May 10. TNPF’s Selvaraja Kajendran has also accused Chunnakam police of threatening eye witnesses in an attempt to conceal evidence. The incident involved 41-year-old Selvanayagam Pratheepan, who was returning home after working at his paddy field. He was ordered to stop by two constables attached to Palali police. When Pratheepan did not stop, the officers allegedly ambushed him and kicked his motorcycle, causing it to crash…

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Right to Life Human Rights Centre Launches Second Torture Monitoring Report

editor

The Right to Life Human Rights Centre (R2L) has unveiled its second torture monitoring report, titled “TRUTH: Targeting Rights: Unraveling Torture’s Harm.” This quarterly publication is a critical resource for understanding the prevalence of torture in Sri Lanka, highlighting measures to prevent it, and detailing legal actions against perpetrators. The report’s key aims are to monitor the incidence of torture, document preventive measures, and track legal proceedings against those responsible for torture. R2L asserts that “TRUTH” is vital for promoting accountability and achieving justice for torture victims in Sri Lanka.…

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Gampaha High Court Acquits Four Sri Lanka Army Personnel in Rathupaswala Shooting Case

editor

The Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar has acquitted four Sri Lanka Army personnel implicated in the Rathupaswala shooting incident, which resulted in the deaths of three individuals during a protest in 2013. The verdict, delivered over 11 years after the tragic event, was issued by a panel of High Court Judges—Nimal Ranaweera, Nishantha Hapuarachchi, and Sahan Mapa. The acquitted individuals include an Army officer and three soldiers. The incident occurred on August 1, 2013, in the Weliweriya area of Rathupaswala, Gampaha, when villagers were protesting against a factory accused of contaminating…

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Student Claims Police Brutality in Melsiripura Arrest

editor

Melsiripura police have arrested two individuals, including a school student, on charges of stealing an air rifle and a mobile phone from a house. The student claims he was subjected to police brutality during the arrest. According to the student, he was the only one taken to the police station by three officers, who allegedly handcuffed and beat him while being transported in a police tricycle. The other two arrested individuals were not punished, the student reported. The student also stated that the police demanded all three pay 22,000 rupees…

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