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Public Dialogue Highlights Delays in Justice and Anti-Torture Mechanisms in Sri Lanka

25-year struggle for justice in the Lasantha Jagath Kumara case reveals systemic failings A public discussion titled “Delays in Sri Lanka’s Justice System and the Functioning of Anti-Torture Mechanisms” was held on July 15, 2015, at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute in Colombo, drawing attention to longstanding issues within Sri Lanka’s criminal justice system. The event featured several prominent legal professionals, activists, and scholars. One of the key cases highlighted during the event was Sriyani Silva vs. Iddamalgoda, described as a landmark judgment in Sri Lankan legal history, particularly in the recognition of the right to life by the judiciary.…

In a significant show of media recognition, the Daily Mirror has featured a detailed article highlighting the efforts of the Right to Life Human Rights Centre (R2L) in raising awareness on torture in Sri Lanka, coinciding with the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on June 26. The article titled “In support of tortured victims – Realities of torture in Sri Lanka” sheds light on the alarming increase in torture complaints and the lack of effective implementation of Sri Lanka’s anti-torture laws, while placing a spotlight on the…

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has revealed that 79 individuals have died in police custody or in incidents following arrest between 2020 and March 2025, according to complaints received by the Commission. In an inquiry conducted by Anidda newspaper journalist Lasantha Ruhunage, HRCSL Commissioner and Attorney-at-Law Nimal G. Punchihewa confirmed that 49 of the reported deaths occurred directly while in police custody. A further 30 individuals reportedly died in incidents following arrest, such as during alleged attempts to retrieve hidden weapons or in other post-arrest operations involving…

On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Right to Life Human Rights Centre reaffirms its unwavering commitment to stand with survivors of torture, to advocate for justice and accountability, and to push for meaningful structural reforms that prevent future abuses. This day, observed annually on June 26, was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1997, marking the date the UN Convention against Torture, Other Cruel Inhuman Degrading Treatment and Punishment came into force in 1987. It is a day to honour the courage and…

Colombo, June 18, 2025 – A pivotal press briefing was held today at Hotel Janaki in Colombo, commemorating 30 years since Sri Lanka’s Torture Act came into force. The event drew attention to the critical need for renewed reforms, as speakers condemned the persistent use of torture by state actors and questioned the effectiveness of current legal safeguards. Human rights activists, legal professionals, and survivors gathered under the theme “30 Years Later: Reassessing the Torture Act and the Road to Reform.” The focus was on evaluating the Act’s enforcement, the…

In a landmark judgment that reinforces the importance of accountability in law enforcement, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ordered six police officers attached to the Thambuttegama Police to pay Rs. 1.2 million in compensation to a youth who was brutally assaulted during a protest in 2012. The compensation must be paid personally by the officers, marking a rare instance where law enforcement officials have been held individually liable for the violation of fundamental rights. The Court also instructed the Attorney General to examine the possibility of initiating criminal…

Serious concerns have emerged following the death of a remand prisoner, who was in custody at the Angunukolapelessa Prison after being charged with contempt of court for possessing a mobile phone. The deceased has been identified as 45-year-old Weerasekara Arachchige Asanka Indunil, a married father of one from New Town, Embilipitiya. According to family members, Asanka had visited the Embilipitiya Magistrate’s Court on April 30, 2025, to post bail for a friend involved in a traffic-related case. During court proceedings, his mobile phone reportedly rang, leading to his immediate arrest…

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered that the evidentiary hearing into the controversial death of 26-year-old Sathsara Nimesh, who allegedly died after being assaulted while in police custody, commence on May 16. The directive was issued today by Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Ratnayake, following a formal request from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is currently conducting investigations into the incident. According to submissions made by CID officials, Nimesh’s body was exhumed on April 23 in accordance with a court order, and a three-member medical board conducted a fresh post-mortem…

Serious allegations have been leveled against officers of the Yakkalamulla Police Station following claims that they physically and mentally abused a fully disabled man during an alleged attempt to frame him for producing and distributing illegal alcohol. The victim, Eriyana Bandara Indika Prabath, a 36-year-old resident of Mbivitawatta, Magedara in Galle, has been paralyzed from the waist down since a life-changing accident in 2020. Confined to a wheelchair and cared for by his elderly mother and brother, Indika now accuses police officers of conducting an illegal search of his home…

A disturbing incident of police brutality has been reported from Darga town, Aluthgama, where a man riding a motorcycle was allegedly assaulted and injured by officers from the Aluthgama Police. The victim, Thirimadura Thilak Wasanna Kumara de Zoysa, had hosted a political meeting at his residence on April 19 at around 5 p.m. Later that evening, he went to a nearby shop with his brother, and he was not wearing a helmet. On their return, a police cab arrived, prompting Wasantha to stop the motorcycle and dismount. According to eyewitness…

Category: News

Public Dialogue Highlights Delays in Justice and Anti-Torture Mechanisms in Sri Lanka

30 Years of the Torture Act: R2L’s Call for Reform Featured in Daily Mirror

79 Deaths in Police Custody Since 2020: Human Rights Commission Issues Guidelines to Prevent Further Tragedies

Official Statement from the Right to Life Human Rights Centre on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

30 Years Later: Reassessing the Torture Act and the Road to Reform

Supreme Court Orders Thambuttegama Police Officers to Personally Pay Rs. 1.2 Million to Assault Victim

Physically Disabled Man Allegedly Assaulted by Yakkalamulla Police.

Brutal Assault by Aluthgama Police