sri lanka police

Public Dialogue Highlights Delays in Justice and Anti-Torture Mechanisms in Sri Lanka

25-year struggle for justice in the Lasantha Jagath Kumara case reveals systemic failings A public discussion titled “Delays in Sri Lanka’s Justice System and the Functioning of Anti-Torture Mechanisms” was held on July 15, 2015, at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute in Colombo, drawing attention to longstanding issues within Sri Lanka’s criminal justice system. The event featured several prominent legal professionals, activists, and scholars. One of the key cases highlighted during the event was Sriyani Silva vs. Iddamalgoda, described as a landmark judgment in Sri Lankan legal history, particularly in the recognition of the right to life by the judiciary.…

In a significant show of media recognition, the Daily Mirror has featured a detailed article highlighting the efforts of the Right to Life Human Rights Centre (R2L) in raising awareness on torture in Sri Lanka, coinciding with the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on June 26. The article titled “In support of tortured victims – Realities of torture in Sri Lanka” sheds light on the alarming increase in torture complaints and the lack of effective implementation of Sri Lanka’s anti-torture laws, while placing a spotlight on the…

In a landmark judgment that reinforces the importance of accountability in law enforcement, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ordered six police officers attached to the Thambuttegama Police to pay Rs. 1.2 million in compensation to a youth who was brutally assaulted during a protest in 2012. The compensation must be paid personally by the officers, marking a rare instance where law enforcement officials have been held individually liable for the violation of fundamental rights. The Court also instructed the Attorney General to examine the possibility of initiating criminal…

On July 24, 2024, the Supreme Court issued an order regarding the controversial appointment of the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The petitioners have presented a compelling prima facie case challenging the constitutionality of the appointment. As a result, the Court granted leave to proceed against the first respondent, the Honorable Attorney General, the Speaker, and Mr. Deshabandu Tennakoon. In a significant interim order, the Supreme Court restrained Mr. T. M. W. Deshabandu Tennakoon from functioning as the IGP until the case is concluded. Consequently, the President is now authorized…

A suspect who was in police custody has been shot dead by the police today (26). The deceased has been identified as Lasantha of Hewalunuwila. He is the main suspect in the murder Amila Prasanna Hettihewa alias of Sunshine Sudda who was killed on September 4th at Warakapitiya in Weligama, Matara. The suspect was arrested by the Kalutara Divisional Crime Investigation Unit in the Diyagama area. He later went to show his hidden weapons and was shot dead by police as he tried to flee, police said. According to the police, he…

යක්කලමුල්ල පොලීසිය බීමතින් පුද්ගලයෙකුට පහර දී යකා නටයි!

A man who had gone to a funeral home in Udugama has been assaulted by three drunken police officers at Yakkalamulla police. The victim is Nagoda Gamage Sudath Sanjeewa, a married father of one, residing at Miniranwalakanda, Udugama Central. He works as a scavenger driver. A funeral was held at the house of his friend Chamara Idunil and He had also attended the Mathaka bana chanting held at that house last (22) and had stayed at that house. Sudath had gone to the Mathaka bana chanting that day on his…

Waligama Death | police torture in sri lanka

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has launched an investigation into the death of a Muslim youth who was beaten to death while in custody. T. Kanagaraj, the coordinator of the Northern Provincial Office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka in Jaffna, said that as a first step in the investigation, statements were recorded from the OIC of the police station where the youth was arrested. Two persons, including the deceased youth, were arrested by the Mannar Police on October 1, 2021 on the Erukalampittu-Pudukudiirippu main…

A man who was traveling in a car was shot to death by the Police Special Task Force last night (17). The deceased has been identified as Lalith Wasantha Pintu (44), a resident of Katana, Seeduwa. According to Police Media Spokesman, Senior DIG Ajith Rohana, a group of STF officers had chased a suspicious whistle car on a tip which received to them. A person inside a car was injured when STF officers used their force to stop the car in the Baseline area in Seeduwa. He was later admitted…

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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Public Dialogue Highlights Delays in Justice and Anti-Torture Mechanisms in Sri Lanka

30 Years of the Torture Act: R2L’s Call for Reform Featured in Daily Mirror

Supreme Court Orders Thambuttegama Police Officers to Personally Pay Rs. 1.2 Million to Assault Victim

Supreme Court Halts Appointment of Inspector General of Police

Another victim hit by police bullet!

A drunken police officer assaults a person

Waligama Death | police torture in sri lanka

Human rights inquiry into a youth who died at the Mannar police station!

A man in Seeduwa shot to death by STF

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