Tag: human rights in Sri Lanka

BASL reveals attempts were taken to stop Police killing suspect in custody

Editor

Prior information had been received that attempts are underway to kill Hewalunuwilage Lasantha alias ‘Tinkar Lasantha’ while in Police custody, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) revealed today. Lasantha, who is the chief suspect wanted over the murder of underworld figure ‘Sunshine Suddha’ was killed in a shootout with the Police this morning while being escorted to recover hidden weapons. Issuing a statement, the BASL said the President of the Association had informed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) via email and text message in this regard, and yet…

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Prison officials think of inmates with contempt – Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera

Editor

Senaka Perera, Attorney-at-Law, Chairman of the Committee to Protect the Rights of Prisoners, says that despite the slogan ‘Prisoners are human beings’, law enforcement officials themselves have a low opinion of prisoners / suspects. He said that there are 28 prisons in Sri Lanka and there are about 25,000 suspects and prisoners in them at present and they are not treated as human beings in prisons in any way. He pointed out that although there have been a number of murders in prisons so far, there is still no culprit, citing…

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Another death at Peliyagoda police station!

Editor

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!

Editor

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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HRCSL launch an Investigation over Hambantota Port Police

Editor

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) and the National Police Commission (NHRC) have launched an investigation into the brutal assault by the Hambantota Port Police. Weerasekera Kamkanamge Tharuka Lakshan, a married and father of two is a resident of Ballagaswewa, Hambantota, was assaulted by the police on a day of June. A resident of the same village had lodged a false complaint with the Hambantota Port Police against Tharuka who runs a garage to make a living. Tharuka had gone to the police on that day to face…

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A drunken police constable assaults two 16-year-old students.

Editor

An incident of a police constable of the Hambantota Port Police has assaulted two students of a technical college on the road has reported to the Aithiya website. The victim was identified as Pahasara Sudusinghe, 16 years old, a resident of Godawaya, Hambantota. On the 5th July this student was participated at shramadana campaign at the Mirijjawila Technical Training College. At around 5.00 pm when he was on the way to return home with a friend, a constable in Hambantota Port Police and another person who arrived on a motorbike…

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Public trust in government and police has eroded – SLCAT writes to IGP

Editor

The Sri Lankan Collective Against Torture says that when government authorities abuse power with arbitrary enforcement of the law against marginalised people in the society and In refusing to provide security to those people caused to erode public in state institute including government and police. They have stated this addressing IGP Mr. Wickramaratne in a letter titled as “preventing arbitrary detentions and deaths in custody”. The signatories of this letter are Anuradhapura Citizen’s Committee, Center for Policy Alternative, Centre for Human Rights and Development, Dabindu Collective, Human Rights Office Kandy,…

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The International Day for the Support of Victims of Torture is Today!

Editor

Today, June 26, is International Day for the Support of Victims of Torture. This day is an annual international celebration by the United Nation. It is a day to speak out against the crime of torture and to honor and support victims as well as survivors around the world. The aim is to pay tribute to the victims of various forms of torture, and to dedicate a day to remembering and supporting the many victims of torture around the world. The UN General Assembly has declared today for two reasons,…

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“All relevant authorities shall take active measures to prevent torture” Chairman, HRCSL

Editor

In December 1997, The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 26th June as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, to commemorate the historic day in 1987, in which the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the key international instrument against torture came into effect. It appeals to all member states to implement the Convention in full effect with the intention of eradicating torture in all its forms across the world. It also requests for support from all stakeholders, civil society and individuals to…

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