Category: News

Colombo, March 6 – The Colombo High Court has sentenced a couple to death for the abuse and murder of a two-year-old child following adoption. Delivering the verdict today, High Court Judge Sujeewa Nissanka ruled that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. The case, filed by the Attorney General, pertained to an incident that occurred in Maligawatta on May 1, 2018. The couple, both around 35 years old, were found guilty of subjecting the child to severe torture, leading to his death. During the trial, police…

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The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice and National Integration has been informed that a staggering 1,131,818 cases remain pending in Sri Lankan courts, raising concerns over delays in the country’s judicial system. The revelation highlights the significant backlog across various levels of the judiciary, affecting both civil and criminal cases. Legal experts warn that such delays undermine public trust in the justice system and hinder access to timely legal remedies. Officials have pointed to multiple factors contributing to the backlog, including a shortage of judges, inefficiencies in court proceedings, and…

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A petition has been submitted to the Court of Appeal, urging the resumption of legal proceedings concerning the deaths of 11 inmates during the 2020 Mahara Prison riots. The petition also seeks directives for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and other relevant authorities to take further action. This legal move follows a letter from the Attorney General’s (AG) Department to the CID, describing the incident as an act of self-defense by the police under Section 77 of the Prisons Ordinance. The AG’s Department had subsequently indicated its intention to close…

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Welisara Magistrate Thusitha Dhammika Uduwavidana expressed surprise yesterday over the Attorney General’s decision to close the case file concerning the deaths of 11 inmates during the 2020 Mahara Prison unrest. The Magistrate raised concerns about the decision during a hearing at the Welisara Magistrate’s Court, noting that the Attorney General had previously assured the Court of Appeal that indictments against the officials implicated in the incident would be filed within three months. Prominent attorney and rights advocate, Senaka Perera, highlighted the seriousness of the Attorney General’s directive to halt further…

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The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a fundamental rights petition filed by a group, including Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, alleging police misconduct during a peaceful protest in Polduwa in 2023. The petition accuses former Acting Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon and several officers of violating the rights of women from the National People’s Power during the protest. The case will be heard by a bench comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Achala Wengappuli, and Priyantha Fernando. The respondents include Deshabandu Tennakoon, Officers-in-Charge (OICs) of the Welikada, Thalangama, and Mirihana…

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A disabled prisoner has been hospitalized following an alleged assault by a prison guard at the Weerawila Open Prison Camp. The prisoner, W.A. Nishan Sanjeewa Hetti Arachchi, a resident of Badalgama, Katukenda, was arrested by the Mattakkuliya Police on October 22, 2024, for possession of 200 milligrams of heroin. On October 23, 2024, the Mattakkuliya Court imposed a fine of Rs. 7,000 on him. Unable to pay the fine, he was sentenced to six months in prison and sent to Welikada Prison, from where he was transferred to the Weerawila…

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