Author: Editor
Negombo: Nine Police officers remanded
Nine Police officers of the Negombo Division Police station, including the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Crimes Division, have been remanded until the 27th of December by the Avissawella Magistrate’s Court. According to Lankadeepa, the suspects were arrested by the Eheliyagoda Police after they had engaged in a brawl with area residents while bathing in a river in the Pannila area in Eheliyagoda. The Avissawella Magistrate’s Court has remanded the suspects until an identification parade is conducted. The suspects who have been remanded are the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Crimes Division…
Read MorePodi Lassi’s mother appeals to United Nation about life threat
A mother has sought the help of the United Nations to save the life of her son, who has been in police custody for more than a year. She has taken this step due to her practical experience that those who have complained to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Police regarding the risk to their lives will not benefit from those institutions. In a letter to the UN Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Colombo on Tuesday (November 30) through the Committee to…
Read MoreForeign intervention against custodial deaths?
The Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) said yesterday (28) that it would have to seek international intervention regarding the spate of custodial deaths that recently occured in Sri Lanka, as domestic mechanisms have already been “exhausted without any proper progress made”. “The latest incident of a death in custody is that of Hewa Lunuwilage Lasantha, alias ‘Tinker Lasantha’. We write the same letters to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) and to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) when such an incident happens. We have…
Read MoreBASL reveals attempts were taken to stop Police killing suspect in custody
Prior information had been received that attempts are underway to kill Hewalunuwilage Lasantha alias ‘Tinkar Lasantha’ while in Police custody, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) revealed today. Lasantha, who is the chief suspect wanted over the murder of underworld figure ‘Sunshine Suddha’ was killed in a shootout with the Police this morning while being escorted to recover hidden weapons. Issuing a statement, the BASL said the President of the Association had informed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) via email and text message in this regard, and yet…
Read MoreAnother victim hit by police bullet!
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…
Read MoreMinister denies Police killed SJB supporter in custody
An individual who was in the custody of the Panamura Police has reportedly died while in Police custody early this morning. Nearly 1000 people have gathered at the Police station to protest over the death, claiming that it was suspicious and the victim had died after being assaulted by the Police. The Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) also staged a protest in Parliament today, holding placards inside the chamber, stating that the victim was a man who had attended the SJB rally in Colombo yesterday. They charged that the Police had…
Read MoreForensic evidence of torture found on murdered Tamil youth
A second autopsy on a Tamil youth from Batticaloa who was “beaten to death” Sri Lankan police, has reportedly revealed signs of torture according to lawyers for the murdered man’s family. 22-year old Chandran Vithusan was tied to a tree and assaulted in front of his family members by Sri Lankan police officers, before being taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on June 3rd. He was pronounced dead the following morning. Tamil lawyer Sugas Kanagaratnam and Vithusan’s family had demanded a second autopsy, after an initial autopsy…
Read MoreSenior DIG of Sri Lanka police, Ranmal Kodithuwakku accused of torture, sexual abuse & cover up
A senior Police officer, already transferred over an incident involving a driver, Mr. Mishara Ranasinghe on the road, has now been accused of torture and sexual abuse, in a letter sent to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by a law firm. Shocking details of the incident that transpired on the road and at the Police station have been mentioned in a letter send by a well known law firm to the President. Neelakandan and Neelakandan, the lawyers appearing on behalf of the driver, have told the President in a detailed letter that…
Read MoreIs the increase in police violence due to drug use by police officers?
Today (01) it was reported in the media that 37 police officers who are addicted to drugs are on active duty in the Western Province. This was revealed by a survey conducted by the Police Headquarters. According to the report, 28 officers who are addicted to drugs are on duty in the Colombo Police Division. A special investigation has been launched to find police officers in other provinces who are addicted to drugs and the police have taken steps to identify all police officers who are addicted to drugs, and…
Read More