Tag: right to life cases in sri lanka

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,…

Read More

“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…

Read More

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

Editor

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…

Read More

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

Editor

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…

Read More

Hambantota police assault a father of two

Editor

Weerasekera Kamkanamge Tharuka Lakshan is a married and father of two, residing at No. 03, Nandamithra Village, Ballagaswewa Grama Niladhari Division, Hambantota. He runs a garage to make a living. Tamara Kaushalya, a resident of the same village, had lodged a complaint with the Hambantota Port Police alleging that she had been threatened and blamed by three persons including Tharuka Lakshan. According to the victims, it was a false complaint and the complainant who has violence personality and she is usually arguing with the majority of the residents of the…

Read More

A suspect has died in police custody in Batticaloa

Editor

A suspect arrested by the Batticaloa Police has died in police custody yesterday (03). The deceased has been identified as Chandran Vidushan (21), a resident of Irudayampura, Batticaloa. He was arrested by the Batticaloa Police at night on 2nd June over a tip received by the Batticaloa Police that he was selling cannabis. According to Vidushan’s relatives, the police arrived at around 10.30 pm and searched the whole house while he was handcuffed and tied to a tree. Though nothing was found there, the police has arrested him and taken…

Read More

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

Editor
Basil-Fernando

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…

Read More

It Is Time ‌for The Judiciary to Defend Itself

Editor
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…

Read More

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

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…

Read More

Not everyone who wear uniform can solve crimes- Philip Disanayake

Editor
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…

Read More