A news report from the Godigama Telwatta area states that a person was assaulted by the police with chili powder applied to his entire body until he confessed to a theft.
The victim, Sewwanda Diloshan, is a 19-year-old married individual who has been working at a private institution for over a year. On December 17th, he was arrested by the Thelikada Police at his workplace without informing the institution. He was arrested in connection with a shop theft, and after taking him into custody, the police applied chili powder to his entire body and beat him until he confessed to the crime.
Unable to endure the inhuman beatings and torture, he confessed to the crime, and during his confession, the Officer-in-Charge recorded an audio statement. After being held in remand custody for 14 days, Sewwanda Diloshan was acquitted and released by the court on the 31st. The police have now identified the actual thief who committed the shop theft last week.
The Galle Human Rights First Aid Center has intervened in this incident and has filed complaints with both the Human Rights Commission and the Police Commission. It is reported that after learning about the complaint filed with the Human Rights Commission, the Elpitiya Crime Investigation Unit is pressuring him to withdraw the complaint.
For legal assistance regarding such incidents, you can contact the regional Human Rights First Aid Centers. Accordingly, complaints about human rights violations and torture within the Galle area can be submitted to either the Galle Human Rights First Aid Center or the Right to Life Human Rights Organization.
