News – Page 2

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…

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…

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…

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…

Colombo, October 22, 2025 — The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ruled that three officers of the Alawwa Police violated the constitutional rights of journalist Thilina Rajapaksa, ordering them to personally pay a total of Rs. 75,000 in compensation. Rajapaksa, an announcer and producer at a private radio channel, was stopped by police on March 1, 2021, while riding his motorcycle from Polgahawela to Colombo. Police Sergeants Ravindra Kumara and B.M.S.S. Wijaya Bandara were accused of crossing the white line on the road. When Rajapaksa challenged their actions, the…

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…

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…

Seventeen years after the brutal torture of 14-year-old schoolboy Buddhi Ewantha Gunasekara from Eranawila, Mitiyagoda, the Balapitiya High Court yesterday (11) handed down long-awaited sentences to four accused, including senior police officers and a civil guard. The tragic case dates back to March 7, 2008, when Buddhi, then a Grade 9 student, was arrested on allegations of stealing money from a neighbor’s house. He was taken into custody by Sub-Inspector Saman Palitha Athukorala and Civil Guard Lalith de Zoysa, based on a complaint lodged with the Mitiyagoda Police. Soon after,…

An incident has been reported from Kantale, where the principal of Agrabodhi Vidyalaya allegedly brutally assaulted several Grade 9 students for eating their meals outside the classroom. The incident occurred on July 28. According to reports, a student named Nisel Nekawiru had brought his breakfast to school in a lunch sheet. His class teacher later called his mother, informing her that the principal had objected to this and asked her to come to school. The teacher advised the mother not to send food in a lunch sheet in the future,…

A fisherman from Rekawa East, Tangalle, has accused police officers of assaulting him after he refused to bow down and apologize to a neighbor during a dispute. The victim, identified as Koku Hannedige Prabath Priyantha, a resident of Pokunu Goda, Netolpitiya, Rekawa East, alleges that on August 2, three officers from the Hungama Police Station forcibly entered his home, dragged him outside, and demanded that he apologize to a neighboring woman in public. When he refused, the officers allegedly beat him with a stick, causing injuries to his leg and…

Category: News

Supreme Court Rules Torture by Payagala Police Violated Fundamental Rights

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

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

Custodial Death at Kandeketiya Police Station

Supreme Court Orders Three Police Officers to Personally Pay Rs. 75,000 for Violating Journalist’s Rights

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

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

Balapitiya Court Delivers Verdict After 17 Year Long Torture Case Involving 14 Year Old Schoolboy

Kantale School Principal Accused of Brutally Assaulting Ninth Grade Students

Tangalle Fisherman Assaulted by Police After Refusing to Apologize to Neighbor