News – slcat

Mother Alleges Principal Assaulted Special Needs Student, Causing Serious Ear Injury

May 6 – The mother of a 12-year-old student with special needs studying in Grade 8 at Thalahitiya Junior College, Ms. Malmalabaduge Anusha Niroshani Fernando, has alleged that the school principal brutally assaulted and seriously injured her son. According to the mother, the incident took place inside the school on April 20, 2026. She alleges that the child was severely assaulted in the area of his right ear, resulting in hearing loss. Doctors later informed her, after the child was hospitalized, that his eardrum had ruptured. The mother stated that…

May 4 – A suspect arrested on drug-related charges was shot and injured while allegedly attempting to escape from police custody near the Galgamuwa Police Station yesterday. According to reports, the suspect was among several individuals being escorted to the Galgamuwa Court when the incident occurred. Police stated that while officers were loading the suspects into a jeep at the police station, two suspects who had been handcuffed together attempted to flee. The suspects reportedly ran nearly 75 meters from the police station gate before police opened fire in an…

May 4 – A 40-year-old inmate of the Welikada Prison, identified as Oshadha Sanjeewa, has reportedly died following an alleged assault by prison officers, raising concerns over the treatment of prisoners in Sri Lanka’s prison system. According to the Committee for the Protection of Prisoner Rights, the deceased was a resident of Magazine Road, Borella, who had been serving a prison sentence on a drug-related charge. Reports state that he had previously escaped while assigned to duties outside the prison premises and was later re-arrested at his residence. The organization…

April 27 – A tense situation unfolded at Magazine Prison when a violent altercation between inmates resulted in injuries to two prisoners and a prison officer, all of whom were subsequently hospitalized. According to the Prisons Department, one of the injured inmates is currently in stable condition. Authorities also confirmed that a 38-year-old inmate from Grandpass, who had been remanded on drug-related charges, has died following the incident. Initial reports suggest that the conflict began when two inmates attempted to move out of their assigned cell and enter others. The…

April 11 – A serious incident of alleged police brutality involving officers attached to the Weerawila Police Station has raised significant concerns over the abuse of power and violation of fundamental rights. According to reports, the incident occurred on the night of April 11, when a group of young men from Tissamaharama were returning home after attending a musical event in Weerawila. The group was traveling in a safari jeep when they were stopped by police officers for inspection. The police alleged that the driver was under the influence of…

The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education has issued a new circular strictly prohibiting corporal punishment and any form of physical or psychological harm against students in schools. Circular No. 11/2026, titled “Maintaining Discipline in Schools,” was released on March 30, 2026, following a directive from the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. The circular is based on the Court’s judgment delivered on July 7, 2025, in relation to Case No. 461/2012 (FR), which instructed the Secretary of Education to take appropriate action. The directive has been circulated among…

A woman from the Habaraduwa area alleges that the Habaraduwa Police are committing inhumane assaults, false cases and threats against her family. She states that after filing a fundamental rights case against the Habaraduwa Police under the number SCFR/01/25 in January 2025, the police pressured her to withdraw the case in various ways. She also states that after rejecting those demands, her family has been facing threats and harassment. Accordingly, on March 17, 2026, she alleges that several police officers not wearing uniforms entered her house from behind, arrested the…

Kobeigane, Sri Lanka — Serious allegations of police brutality have emerged from the Kobeigane area, where a local mason, Pradeep Kumara, was reportedly subjected to inhumane treatment during a police investigation into a theft. According to reports, the incident began after homeowners lodged a complaint regarding the theft of gold items from their residence. Mr. Kumara, who had reportedly visited the house on a previous occasion for work, was asked to appear at the police station to assist with the investigation. Demonstrating willingness to cooperate, he voluntarily presented himself to…

Colombo, Sri Lanka — The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ruled that the fundamental rights of a restaurant owner in Midigama were violated by seven officers of the Excise Department, ordering them to pay compensation from their personal funds. The judgment, delivered on the 11th, directed the seven officers named as respondents to pay a total of Rs. 525,000 to the petitioner within three months Rs. 75,000 each. The petition was filed by Dinesh Priyadarshana Dodangoda, the owner of a restaurant in the Midigama area. He alleged that between…

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…

Category: News

Mother Alleges Principal Assaulted Special Needs Student, Causing Serious Ear Injury

Drug Suspect Shot While Allegedly Attempting to Escape Police Custody in Galgamuwa

Welikada Prison Inmate Dies Following Alleged Assault by Prison Officers

Violent Clash at Magazine Prison Leaves One Inmate died

Allegations of Police Brutality in Weerawila

Zero Tolerance for Corporal Punishment: Education Ministry Issues New Circular

Police Brutality Allegations Reported in Habaraduwa

Allegations of Police Assault in Kobeigane Spark Calls for Justice

Supreme Court Finds Rights Violation by Excise Officers, Orders Personal Compensation

Supreme Court Rules Torture by Payagala Police Violated Fundamental Rights