Are you abusing children in a modern way?

Date – 2021 / February Location – Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital Ward 63 Baby Name: XX Age of child: 10 years Disease – Chronic abdominal pain Date – 2021 / March Location – Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital Ward 63 Baby Name: YY Age of child: 9 years 7 months Disease: Sudden knee pain The two patients I wrote about above are two very nice, wonderful kids. The first girl comes to us with her mother. Complaining of a chronic stomach ache… After months of testing, she was unable to diagnose any urinary…

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protect the right to report, protest and speak.

STATEMENT ON ARRESTS, DETENTION AND TORTURE OF PERSONS AT THE MIRIHINA PUBLIC PROTEST ON 31st  MARCH 2022 The Sri Lanka Collective Against Torture (SLCAT) condemns the arrests, detention and torture of protestors and by-standers at the public protest at Mirihana, Nugegoda on the night of 31st March 2022. These persons had gathered to exercise their basic civic right to highlight the devastating impact of the economic crisis which has led to island wide power outages and a fuel shortage which has impacted essential services and the supplies of food and…

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A guidebook for lawyers.

a guidebook for lawyers

It is important for lawyers dealing with torture complaints to act promptly and efficiently against the backdrop of increasing in police and state torture. To support them, The Right Life Organization has teamed up with Attorney – in – law Ms. Armisa Tigel, the organization has long campaigned against torture, inhuman acts and degrading treatments to develop guidelines for lawyers dealing with torture cases and to launch in collaboration with the human right lawyers association. The key points are addressed by Mr. Saliya Peiris, President’s Councel, and President of the Bar Association of Srilanka and other points were…

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Another suspect dies in police custody

A suspect arrested by the Matugama Police has died suddenly. The deceased has been identified as Vidanage, Bellanagama Dhanuka Saliya, (40) who lived in No. 49, Yatadola. The suspect was arrested by the Matugama Police yesterday (22) in connection with a kassippu charge and fell ill. He was rushed to the Wettewa Government Hospital in Matugama due to mucus coming out of his mouth, but he had already died, hospital sources said. The body has been sent to the Nagoda Hospital, Kalutara for an autopsy. Eight suspects have died in…

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07 killed in police custody over last 8 months

The police act in a very careless manner towards the suspects who are being arrested and those who are about to be arrested. The most recent example was the Sooriyawewa police chasing a motorcycle and shooting dead two men on information that a gold necklace tied around a woman’s neck had been stolen. The deceased have been identified as Wickramage Wasantha alias Kadawara Putha (32) of Koggalla, Amlantota and Mahesh Krishantha Epa Kankanamlage(34), Akkarakalgoda, Ambalantota. Tissamaharama Police have informed the surrounding police that the two had robbed a woman of…

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

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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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…

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

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…

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