Category: News

Four police officers have been detained in connection with the death of an individual, Nagaraja Alex (26), while in police custody in Jaffna. Nagaraja Alex passed away in police custody, reportedly as a result of an assault by police officers. In compliance with directives from the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court issued yesterday, the four police officers have been taken into custody. According to the postmortem report, the young man’s demise was attributed to kidney damage caused by an alleged assault. The youth, along with another suspect, was apprehended by the Vaddukottai…

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In a press release issued today, the Right to Life Human Rights Center of Sri Lanka (R2L) has demanded justice for the untimely death of 25-year-old Nagarasa Alex, who reportedly succumbed to injuries inflicted during his custody by the Sri Lankan police. This tragic incident has ignited a fervent call for comprehensive police reform and the immediate implementation of amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) to empower magistrates in overseeing the conditions within police stations and prisons. Nagarasa Alex, a resident of Sithankerni, Jaffna, was arrested on November 8,…

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In a tragic incident that has raised serious concerns about police conduct and human rights in Sri Lanka, a 26-year-old Tamil youth, Nagarasa Alex, was found dead in police custody on Sunday, November 19. Alex, hailing from the war-affected north of Sri Lanka, had been arrested by the police in Vaddukoddai on November 8 on charges related to burglary. The family of the deceased alleges that Alex was subjected to severe torture during his time in custody, and they believe that timely intervention by the country’s Human Rights Commission could…

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On November 14th, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling, declaring that the arrest of Ramzy Razeek in April 2020, under the ICCPR Act, infringed upon his Fundamental Rights. Consequently, the State has been directed to compensate him with Rs 1 million. In a noteworthy move, Chief Inspector B.M.A.S.K. Senaratne, the first respondent, and former CID Director DIG W. Thilakaratne, the second respondent, have been personally instructed to pay Rs 30,000 to the petitioner, Mr. Razeek, within one month from their own funds. Moreover, the Supreme Court has mandated the…

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In a distressing turn of events, the peaceful and continuous protests held by Thimbirigasyaya residents in front of the Thimbirigasaya Health Guard Pharmacy are under siege, as an organized mob attempted to disrupt the demonstration on November 12, 2023. The silent protest, which has persisted for 234 consecutive times since April 7, 2022, has faced escalating threats, prompting concerns for the safety and constitutional rights of the demonstrators. Reports indicate that a group of approximately 40 individuals orchestrated a violent attack, with evidence pointing towards a well-coordinated effort involving multiple…

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By Dr.Thushara Wickramanayake “History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children” – Nelson Mandela Three decades after ratifying the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the treaty signed by the largest number of countries in the world, Sri Lanka’s rhetorical promises to protect and promote the rights of children is a crystal-clear reflection of the history of the nation that has failed many generations. During the recent uprising ‘Aragalaya’, the citizens demanded “a better country for our children” but the…

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On October 23, a young man filed a formal complaint with the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission, accusing officers from the Kesbewa Police Station of violently assaulting him and issuing death threats. The incident took place on the 17th when multiple police officers apprehended him without any apparent reason. They then transported him to a secluded area, where they restrained him and subjected him to physical abuse, according to the victim’s statement. In addition to the assault, the complainant asserted that his wife was held at the police station until…

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In a shocking turn of events, Ranawila Arachchilage Shanaka Chaminda, a 33-year-old resident of Hokandara, has come forward with allegations of severe police brutality and coercion during his recent arrest by the Malabe police. According to Shanaka Chaminda, his ordeal began when his brother-in-law, Lasantha Madhushanka, was released from prison after serving time on drug charges. Lasantha Madhushanka, after his release, found himself back behind bars without any charges laid against him for an entire year. This incident led Lasantha Madhushanka to file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.…

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In a case that has spanned over three decades, justice was finally served on October 10, 2023, as the Kalutara High Court Judge Pradeep Abeyratne pronounced the verdict for a heinous murder that occurred on January 15, 1992. The victim, Dhanapala Fernando, a resident of Pahe Kanuwa, Meagamwatta area of Dharga town, was brutally attacked with sticks and killed in Navuttuduwa, Keeranthidiya area. The trial, which had been pending under the Magistrates of Matugama Magistrate’s Court and passed through the hands of several High Court Judges of Kalutara High Court,…

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    In a recent ruling, Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Mr. Bandula Gunaratne found former surgeon Ashoka Wijemann guilty of injuring a nurse with scissors in the operating theater of Kurunegala Teaching Hospital. The incident, which occurred around March 12, 2019, led to a case filed under Section 314 of the Ceylon Penal Code at the Chief Magistrate’s Court. Chief Magistrate Bandula Gunaratne emphasized that surgeons should not act out of anger and must uphold discipline and restraint in their duties. He also informed the plaintiff nurse, Mrs.…

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