Category: News

Geneva, 22 January 2024 – United Nations experts have raised serious concerns over Sri Lanka’s aggressive security-driven approach to combat drug-related issues, urging authorities to suspend and review Operation ‘Yukthiya’ immediately. The experts emphasized the need for a shift towards policies centered on health and human rights, condemning the reported arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment of thousands of drug offenders from marginalized groups. In a joint statement, the UN experts underscored the fundamental human rights of drug users, asserting that they deserve to lead lives free from discrimination and stigmatization. The…

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  In a distressing turn of events, a man lost his life in Dampelessa, Narammala, as a result of police gunfire on the evening of January 18. According to Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa, the incident transpired when a group of police officers pursued a lorry whose driver failed to comply with a signal to stop at a police checkpoint in the Dampelessa area. After a brief chase, the police successfully intercepted the lorry and initiated an inspection of the vehicle. Unfortunately, during the inspection process, an inadvertent discharge…

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A coalition of prominent international human rights organizations has raised alarms over the intensification of anti-drug operations in Sri Lanka, citing significant human rights violations and urging the government to immediately cease the controversial operation named “Yukthiya.” In a joint statement, the organizations expressed deep concern about the reported violations, including arbitrary arrests, invasive searches, and the involvement of the armed forces in the operation. The operation, spearheaded by Acting Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennekoon on December 17, 2023, has drawn widespread criticism for its severe impact on individuals…

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The Sri Lanka Collective Against Torture (SLCAT) has issued a resounding call for immediate action following the recent Supreme Court judgment in SCFR 107/2011, underscoring the imperative need to address institutionalized violence within the Sri Lankan Police Department. The statement, released in response to the judgment dated 14th December 2023, highlights grave concerns about the routine and systemic nature of cruel treatment and torture perpetrated by officers of the Sri Lanka police against citizens. Specifically, the judgment found Deshabandu Tennekoon, Senior Superintendent of Police for the Western province, responsible for…

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In a shocking turn of events, legal professionals and academics in Sri Lanka have issued an open letter to the President, urging immediate action following a landmark Supreme Court decision in the case of Sumangala v Bandara and Others (SCFR 107/2011). The three-judge bench unanimously ruled that Respondents, including Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, violated fundamental rights by engaging in torture, unlawful arrest, and arbitrary administrative actions. The Court emphasized that such actions undermined core values of the Rule of Law and Democracy, implicating the State’s obligations under international law applicable…

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– Ajith Perakum Jayasinghe Student X studied in grade 11 of Navodya Maha Vidyalaya, Dodangoda. On the occasion of the Poson festival that year, the Dodangoda police organized a lantern competition and this photograph shows the lantern rotating inside a bottle presented by the student. The design won the first prize in the competition and he received the prize for it on stage, when the name of the school was announced. The principal of the school, Sarojini Nirmala Kothalawala was angry that the student got on the stage and received…

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  Colombo, December 12, 2023: In commemoration of the 75th International Human Rights Day, the Sri Lankan Collective Against Torture organized an event titled “The Root of Police Torture.” A policy dialogue, themed “Context and Solutions,” was conducted on December 11th at the Laxman Kadiragamar Center in Colombo 07. Distinguished guests at the event included Honorable Minister of Justice, Mr. Wijayadasa Rajapaksa; former Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Priyantha Jayakodi; Forensic Medicine Professor, Mr. Clifford Perera; lawyer, Mr. Dulan Dasanayake; and social activist, Mrs. Amita Priyanthi. Addressing the…

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Vasanthapuram, Mannar Guru: In a disturbing incident reported to the Mannar Human Rights Commission, a family residing in Vasanthapuram village has accused the police at Adampan police station of threats and gunfire, claiming their lives are in jeopardy. Y. Sakhayarani, a mother of four from Vattakandal, Vasanthapuram, Guruvil, submitted a formal complaint to the commission, along with copies sent to the Mannar Senior Superintendent of Police and the Mannar District Socio-Economic Development Agency. According to Sakhayarani, the ordeal began on the evening of the 1st of December, when three plainclothes…

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In a shocking turn of events, a 14-year-old student, Narayanan Anandadevan Darsath, found himself at the center of a tragedy that has left his family devastated and the community grappling with unsettling questions. The young boy was arrested on November 16 by the Batticaloa-Kokkuvil police, accused of stealing a lamp and a bell. Following his arrest, Narayanan was swiftly brought to court on November 17, where a decision was made to place him in a child rehabilitation camp. However, the situation took a grim turn when, on November 29, the…

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In a dedicated effort to tackle a pressing issue impacting our most vulnerable, an upcoming webinar titled “Screening, Documentation, and Monitoring of Torture in Children” is scheduled for December 6, 2023, at 3 PM CET. This event aims to spotlight the critical need for identifying, documenting, and monitoring cases of torture among children. Hosted on Zoom, the webinar invites concerned individuals, advocates, and professionals to actively participate and contribute to the collective mission of combating child torture. To register for the event, simply follow this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pdO2gpjgvG9IrdyTSMmPeiPDCFS_4ca2-. Scheduled to be…

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