Category: News

My husband died as a result of assault by Matugama police – says the wife of the suspect who died in police custody!

The wife of the suspect who died in police custody in Matugama has complained to the IGP that her husband had been assaulted by police officers. The National Police Commission, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and the Attorney General have also been informed in writing this regard. A suspect arrested by the Matugama Police on the 22nd had suddenly fallen ill and died. The deceased has been identified as Bellana Vithanage Saliya Dhanuka, 40, a resident of Matugama, Yatadolawatta. He is a father of three and sells firewood…

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Another suspect dies in police custody

A suspect arrested by the Matugama Police has died suddenly. The deceased has been identified as Vidanage, Bellanagama Dhanuka Saliya, (40) who lived in No. 49, Yatadola. The suspect was arrested by the Matugama Police yesterday (22) in connection with a kassippu charge and fell ill. He was rushed to the Wettewa Government Hospital in Matugama due to mucus coming out of his mouth, but he had already died, hospital sources said. The body has been sent to the Nagoda Hospital, Kalutara for an autopsy. Eight suspects have died in…

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07 killed in police custody over last 8 months

The police act in a very careless manner towards the suspects who are being arrested and those who are about to be arrested. The most recent example was the Sooriyawewa police chasing a motorcycle and shooting dead two men on information that a gold necklace tied around a woman’s neck had been stolen. The deceased have been identified as Wickramage Wasantha alias Kadawara Putha (32) of Koggalla, Amlantota and Mahesh Krishantha Epa Kankanamlage(34), Akkarakalgoda, Ambalantota. Tissamaharama Police have informed the surrounding police that the two had robbed a woman of…

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Kotawila Police OIC assaulted suspect with cricket stump

A complaint has lodged with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) alleging that a man in the Kotawila area in Matara had been tortured and assaulted by the Kotawila Police and had injured his right shoulder. The victim was identified as H.G. Dharmabandu, a resident of Sultanagoda-Warakapitiya. According to him, on the night of July 31, Sumith and his son whose reside the house next door had come to the Dharmabandu’s house and got into an argument. Sumith has lodged a complaint with the Kotawila Police against Dharmabandu…

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Justice for Ishalini

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Media conference held on the 03rd August 2021 explaning the contents of the letter sent to the president of Sri Lanka by the Bishop of Kandy and his priests regarding the death of Ishalini and exploitation of children of the plantation sector. “As the Bishop and Priests in the Catholic Diocese of Kandy (Central Province), we were very saddened and shocked to hear about the death of 16-year-old girl Ishalini, a parishioner of St. Anthony’s Church, Dayagama in our diocese. It is our firm conviction that a young girl like…

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The Complaint by a young mother of sexual harassment suffered at the Padukka Police Station.

A woman raise her voice against police sexual abuse suffered at the Padukka Police station. She appeals to the President and the IGP for seeking justice. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has also sent an open letter to the IGP that urging to urgently intervene by, (a) Ensuring her protection (b) Conducting an urgent inquiry (c) Ensure Arrest and criminal action against the accused. Following is a translation of the transcript of her message. (The translation from Sinhala to English by Asian Human Rights Commission) My husband, my two…

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A man in Seeduwa shot to death by STF

A man who was traveling in a car was shot to death by the Police Special Task Force last night (17). The deceased has been identified as Lalith Wasantha Pintu (44), a resident of Katana, Seeduwa. According to Police Media Spokesman, Senior DIG Ajith Rohana, a group of STF officers had chased a suspicious whistle car on a tip which received to them. A person inside a car was injured when STF officers used their force to stop the car in the Baseline area in Seeduwa. He was later admitted…

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Another death at Peliyagoda police station!

The deceased is a 43 year old mother of two children who residing at Gemunu Mawatha, Peliyagoda. Peliyagoda Police arrested five persons including this woman when they have summoned to the police in connection with a clash between the two groups. Her relatives allege that she died because no action was taken to admit her to a hospital or give to necessary treatments even her relatives informed the police that she was a sick woman. Her daughter says her mother, who was in custody, screamed that she was having chest…

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One million rupees compensation for Sherman who died of police assault!

The Supreme Court today (14) has been ordered to pay one million rupees as compensation for violating fundamental rights to the petitioner Chadik Shaman (42), a resident of Ihala Bomriya, Kaduwela, who died of a police assault after being arrested by the Peliyagoda Police on February 25, 2017. Chadik Shaman, a father of two, was illegally arrested by a group of plainclothes police officers of Peliyagoda police who arrived at his residence on February 25, 2017 at around 04.00 am without filing any charges. The next day, his wife received…

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Key witness in Welikada prison massacre receives death threats again

A key eyewitness in the Welikada prison massacre, which took place when the current president was serving as the defence secretary, has received death threats once again, says the leading prisoners rights group in the country. Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) Chairman Senaka Perera said that on 7 July, two unidentified persons who visited Sudesh Nandimal Silva’s residence at the Lakhiru Sewana apartment complex in Maligawatte had inquired from neighbours about De Silva’s movements. He further added that the unidentified persons had made statements which imply that they…

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