Foreign 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…

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BASL 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…

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Another 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…

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Minister 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…

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Forensic 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…

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Senior 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…

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Is 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…

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SDIG Ranmal Kodithuwakku charged with assaulting a civilian

Sabaragamuwa Senior DIG Ranmal Kodithuwakku has been charged with assaulting a civilian. A special investigation has been launched into Sabaragamuwa Senior DIG Ranmal Kodithuwakku who is accused of inhumanely assaulting a civilian on the Ratnapura – Kiriella road on the 25th at noon, said SSP Nihal Thalduwa yesterday (26). Accordingly, steps have been taken to transfer him with immediate effect to the Police Medical and Welfare Unit at the Police Field Force Headquarters. Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Kalutara District K.S. P. M. Gunaratne has been…

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A drunken police officer assaults a person

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…

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Police violence that cannot be hidden on social media!

The video of a police constable assaulting two youths on a motorcycle in the Eravur area in Batticaloa has been circulating on social media since the 23rd of this month. Following the social media revelations about this police constable who had inhumanly assaulted the youth in public, the Police Department had to arrest him. Despite the arrests and suspensions, police violence has not stopped. But with the advancement of social media today, not only police officers but the entire state as well as the private sector need to think twice…

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