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 and tortured at his rented home in the early hours of September 29. Reports state that police officers kicked Fernando and hit him with a hosepipe during the arrest.
The next day, Fernando’s wife and her housemate were arrested when they tried to get information about him. They were held until October 1, only after Fernando’s mother filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL). Fernando is still in custody and has not appeared in court since his arrest.
HRCSL investigations revealed that Kandana Police initially denied that Fernando was in custody and only confirmed the arrest after officials visited the station. HRCSL has recorded Fernando’s statement and instructed the Officer-in-Charge to make sure he is examined by a judicial medical officer before appearing in court. Alarmingly, there are allegations that police pressured Fernando to falsely say he was arrested on October 2.
Fernando’s mother has demanded answers:
“Do the police have the right to detain my son illegally for four days and torture him?”
“Do they have the right to unlawfully arrest my daughter-in-law and the homeowner?”
“Do they have the right to mislead the Human Rights Commission?”
Human rights advocates and the public are now urging the Inspector General of Police to take immediate action against those responsible and ensure justice is served. This case has become a key test of Sri Lanka’s commitment to uphold basic rights, prevent torture, and maintain the rule of law.
