torture

Bentara Police Accused of Assaulting Hotel Employee in False Arrest

September 12, 2024 editor

Beruwala – Hasitha Malinga, a 24-year-old hotel employee from Beruwala, was allegedly assaulted by Bentara Police officers after being falsely accused of theft. Malinga, who works at a hotel in Bentara, completed his shift and returned home in the early hours of August 9, 2024. Later that morning, around 9:00 AM, he received a call from his workplace, asking him to return. Upon his arrival, police officers were waiting for him and arrested him on allegations of misplacing a foreign guest’s wallet. During his detention, Malinga was reportedly subjected to…

Supreme Court Rules Fundamental Rights of First Female Acting DIG Violated; Orders Reconsideration of Appointment

September 11, 2024September 11, 2024 editor

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court ruled yesterday (10th) that the fundamental rights of Mrs. Bimshani Jasinghaarachchi, the Senior Superintendent of Police and the first female officer to serve as Acting Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Community Police Unit in Sri Lanka, had been violated. As a result, the court directed the National Police Commission to reconsider her appointment as Acting DIG of the Community Police Unit, effective from October 5. Mrs. Jasinghaarachchi was appointed Acting DIG of the Community Police Unit on December 14, 2020. However, after…

IGP and Police Commission Found Guilty of Failing to Enforce Anti-Torture Directives

August 29, 2024 editor

To protect individuals in police custody from being subjected to torture, the court had previously issued several directives. However, these measures have not produced the intended results, as stated by Justice S. Thurai Raja, Chairman of the three-judge Supreme Court bench, on August 26. Justice Thurai Raja made this declaration during the consideration of a fundamental rights petition related to a case of severe torture. Despite the court’s various orders, warnings, and guidelines aimed at preventing such abuses during police arrests, incidents of torture continue unabated. The National Police Commission…

Retired OIC Attacked by Officers from Mahaba Police Station, Suffers Severe Eye Damage

July 22, 2024July 23, 2024 editor

A retired Officer in Charge (OIC), who previously served at the Mahabage Police Station, suffered severe eye damage after being attacked by a group of officers from the same station. He is currently receiving treatment at Ragama Hospital. The retired OIC, aged 46, shared his ordeal with the media. He explained that he had served in the police force for 24 years before retiring on March 1, 2023, due to personal reasons, despite having the option to continue his service for another 14 years. Since his retirement, he had…

Nurse Wins Fundamental Rights Case Against Surgeon for Assault

July 19, 2024July 20, 2024 editor

In a landmark judgment delivered today, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Madhavi Buddhika Rajaguru, a nurse who filed a case against Ashoka Wijemanne, a consultant surgeon, for assaulting her with a bone cutter at Kurunegala General Hospital. The court held that Wijemanne had violated Rajaguru’s fundamental right to be free from cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. As a result, Wijemanne has been ordered to pay Rs. 50,000 in compensation to Rajaguru. Additionally, the State has been directed to pay her Rs. 10,000 within the next three months.…

Elderly Woman Allegedly Assaulted by Police While Trying to Protect Son-in-law

September 13, 2023September 13, 2023 editor

Matugama, Sri Lanka – September 10, 2023: In a shocking incident that unfolded on the evening of September 7, 2023, a 65-year-old woman named Kusumavati, residing in Karanpatara Navuttuduwa, Matugama, was allegedly assaulted by police officers while attempting to protect her son-in-law, Asanka Suresh, aged 27, from being taken into custody. According to reports, Asanka Suresh, who works in a nearby tea estate, was on his way home from work when he was apprehended by two police inspectors, Chandima and Sadaruwan, both from the Matugama police force. Asanka…

Bringing Justice and Relief to Torture Victims

June 26, 2022 editor

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…

Permission to hear the Fundamental Rights Petition against the Baduraliya Police

June 17, 2022 editor

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…

protect the right to report, protest and speak.

April 3, 2022 editor

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…

A guidebook for lawyers.

January 29, 2022January 31, 2022 editor

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…