freedom from torture in sri lanka

A Statement by SLCAT on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

Today as we mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we the undersigned express grave concern about the increasing use of torture in Sri Lanka. During the last year, we witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic cause unimaginable challenges to Sri Lankans. In this context of deep instability and uncertainty, Sri Lankan citizens have been made to feel more insecure through the increasing use of violence by the police. SLCAT recognizes at least 30 reported incidents of torture, 22 and 5 custodial and extra judicial deaths between the period…

On the universal day for torture victims, this year, a book will be launched by The Right to Life organization working in collaboration with the AHRC on a long standing case, which is continuing in courts, regarding a man who was killed extra-judicially, inside a Police station. The author of the book is Amitha Priyanthi, the younger sister of the deceased. When the death took place after her brother was kept at a police station for five days, she was just a school going girl. However, the shock of this…

The Supreme Court has ordered six police personnel at the Kandaketiya Police Station to pay compensation of Rs.300,000 to a mother of a 17-year-old deceased son who died after being assaulted by police personnel in 2014. The Supreme Court further ordered the six respondents to pay Rs.60,000 to the petitioner in lieu of litigation costs. The six respondents have been found guilty of murder of the deceased, being members of an unlawful assembly and they were sentenced to death by the Badulla High Court in a judgement dated January 9,…

An incident reported from Waligama, Matara demonstrates the kind of very saddening situations which has been experienced by people in terms of the spread of Covid-19. A young girl in a family was detected of having been infected with the virus and was taken to hospital for treatment. The rest of the family was asked to quarantine themselves by staying in their own house. They stayed for three to four days using all that they had in terms of food and other necessities and finally that came to an end…

යක්කලමුල්ල පොලීසිය පොට පටලවාගෙන මහ මඟ සිටි අයෙකුට පහර දෙයි!…

A complaint has lodged to The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), against Yakkalamulla Police in Galle district with regarding case of arresting and assaulting a civilian. The victim is Koggala Wellalage Sisira Kumara, a resident of Hospital Road, Aluthwatta, Nakiyadeniya, in Galle.On 9th May, he has gone to Dimuthu pharmacy at Yakkalamulla Junction to buy some medicine at around 09.00 – 09.30 p.m . While he was there, he has heard the sound of exploding firecrackers near the Yakkalamulla junction, 30…

It Is Time ‌for The Judiciary to Defend Itself

By Basil Fernando The recommendations by a Commission appointed by the President, recommending that a large number of criminal cases that have been filed in the Courts of Sri Lanka be withdrawn, is the deadliest blow that has been dealt to the administration of justice in Sri Lanka. If this recommendation is put into effect, the consequence would be that of replacing the Judiciary of Sri Lanka with anyone that the President may choose to appoint in order to annul any of the proceedings that are instituted in a court…

Not everyone who wear uniform can solve crimes

In 2020 alone, 26 illegal killings were reported, said Philip Dissanayake, a member of the Convening Board of the Sri Lankan Alliance Against Torture. He points out that there have been 16 incidents and 26 inmates have been killed along with 11 other prisoners who died in the Mahara incident. He says there are three criteria as a key factor in establishing human rights in a country: the first is that murders cannot take place outside the country, the second is that disappearances are not allowed, and the third is…

Tag: freedom from torture in sri lanka

A Statement by SLCAT on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

SRI LANKA: A Sister’s 20 Year Long Struggle For Justice For Her Brother Killed By The Police

SC orders policemen to pay for youth’s death after assault

A Man Who went in Search for food for his family beaten and killed – Basil Fernando

Yakkalamulla police assault a man on the road…!

It Is Time ‌for The Judiciary to Defend Itself

Not everyone who wear uniform can solve crimes- Philip Disanayake