human rights commission in sri lanka

It Is Time ‌for The Judiciary to Defend Itself

April 30, 2021 Editor

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by the President, recommending that a large number of criminal cases that have been filed in the Courts of Sri Lanka be withdrawn, is the deadliest blow that has been dealt to the administration of justice in Sri Lanka.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…

Did the suspect who died in mt.Lavinia due to Police torture?

April 7, 2021April 7, 2021 editor

police torture in mount lavinia police station

Relatives of a man who died after being arrested by Mount Lavinia Police and produced before a court have lodged a complaint with the IGP and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. The deceased has been identified as Vasana Susantha Dissanayake, 49, a resident of Pasal Mawatha, Kalubowila. He is said to have run a motorcycle repair business by profession. His son also runs a motorcycle spare parts shop in Attidiya. Vasana Susantha, who died on March 18, was arrested by the police in Ratmalana while carrying food to…

How to build a non-violent police force?

April 3, 2021April 7, 2021 editor

Police violence has become a current topic in Sri Lanka. There will be 26 illegal killings in Sri Lanka in 2020 alone, said Philip Dissanayake, spokesman for the Sri Lankan Alliance Against Torture. Police are responsible for about half of those killings. The Department of Prisons is the main agency responsible for the rest. In addition, there were a number of incidents of police torturing suspects in 2020. There were also reports of disruptions, assaults, arrests and harassment of peaceful protesters. In June, activists, including women from the Frontline Socialist…

Not everyone who wear uniform can solve crimes- Philip Disanayake

March 30, 2021 Editor

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…