A media organization has requested the implementation of court rulings issued against the police for torturing suspects.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, Ravi Seneviratne, the Young Journalists’ Association pointed out that, despite numerous rulings by the Supreme Court and the Human Rights Commission over the years against illegal arrests, detentions, and torture by the police, these rulings have yet to be implemented, allowing police brutality to persist.
Over the past few years, the Human Rights Commission has delivered 51 rulings against police brutality, and the Supreme Court has ruled in 14 cases involving over 25 police officers for torturing suspects.
On August 22, before the appointment of the President of the National People’s Power, the Supreme Court, while delivering a verdict on a fundamental rights petition, remarked that “before one ruling is written and the ink of the pen is dry, another similar incident is reported.”
This petition was filed by Priyantha, a young man from village in Suriyawewa, Hambantota, in response to a violation of his fundamental rights by the police.
The Young Journalists’ Association stressed that the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security has a significant responsibility for ensuring the implementation of rulings related to police torture.
“The leadership and senior management of the police must pay close attention to this issue. The leadership includes not only the Inspector General of Police and the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, but also the Minister in charge of the Police and the Secretary of the respective Ministry. The National Police Commission must also closely monitor this situation.”
When questioned by journalist Tharindu Jayawardena on this matter, the Minister in charge of the Police, Vijitha Herath, stated that court rulings against police officers will be implemented in the future.
The young journalists warned that if this situation is not addressed effectively, and if torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment are not stopped, future court rulings may include sanctions against the leadership and senior management of the police. Such rulings would reflect their failure to prevent torture and inhumane treatment within Sri Lanka’s law enforcement and criminal investigation processes.
