Tag: police torture

A 16-year-old student was allegedly brutally attacked by police officers after being stopped for not wearing a helmet

On August 7th , Tarut Dinal, a 16-year-old school student, was riding his father’s motorcycle after visiting a shop with his brother. Upon returning, Payagala traffic officers noticed that his brother was not wearing a helmet. The officers stopped the motorcycle and harshly reprimanded them, shouting “stop, stop.” Frightened, the student drove to a nearby house close to a temple. According to reports, the two police officers followed the student to the location, where they allegedly punched him in the ear and kicked him with a booted foot, causing him…

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Bus Conductor Assaulted by Tissa Police: A Case of Brutal Treatment

On August 2, 2024, a bus conductor from the Kingsley Super Service, identified as Vitarana Hetty Arachchige Amisha Madhuranga, was publicly assaulted and later arrested by the Tissamaharama Police. The incident occurred after Madhuranga, 23, was suspected of deceiving a woman and withdrawing money from an ATM using her Visa card. The conductor, an unmarried resident of No. 16, Nugewala, Ambalantota Mamadala, was stopped while on duty in the Tissa-Matara bus route. According to witnesses, an ununiformed officer approached the back door of the bus and ordered Madhuranga to halt…

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Two constables in Pedurutudu have been suspended for the death of an arrested suspect

In response to the death of a suspect in police custody in Pedurutuduwa, Jaffna, the Superintendent of Police of Kankasanthura has suspended the services of two constables effective from July 29 until the conclusion of the investigation. The deceased, a young man residing in Pedurutuduwa, was suspected to have been severely beaten following his arrest. He sustained serious injuries due to the alleged assaults and was admitted to Pedurutuduwa Hospital for treatment. The young man succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment. The post-mortem examination revealed severe damage to his…

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Police Brutality: 55-Year-Old Man Tortured by Embilipitiya Police

A shocking incident of police brutality has emerged from Embilipitiya, where a 55-year-old man was subjected to severe torture by police officers. Susil Vitaranage, a father of two from Sevanagala, Kiriwewa, Nugegala Yaya, Katuwana Yaya No. 55, was the victim of this horrific ordeal. On the 28th of this month, while working in his paddy field, Vitaranage was approached by three men in a white car who claimed to be from the Southern Province Anti-Corruption Unit. They told him they were taking him to Tangalle to record a statement. Vitaranage…

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Bringing Justice and Relief to Torture Victims

Today is the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture That Sri Lanka is a country where torture is rife has been well documented by several international organisations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) and Freedom From Torture. According to Freedom from Torture, despite being a top holiday destination, Sri Lanka has consistently been the country from where it receives the most clients. Although the civil war ended in 2009, that has not ended human rights violations. Most at risk of torture…

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Permission to hear the Fundamental Rights Petition against the Baduraliya Police

The Supreme Court yesterday(16) granted leave to hear a fundamental rights petition filed by Suranjith Wickremanayake alleging that he was brutally beaten and arbitrarily arrested by officers of the Baduraliya Police Station. The Supreme Court has allowed the petition to be heard in violation of the Constitution’s right to refrain from torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment, as well as the right to arbitrary arrest and impunity. Attorney-at-Law Shelomi Daniel appeared before the Supreme Court on behalf of the petitioner along with Attorney-at-Law Armisa Tigel on the…

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

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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