Author: Editor

HRCSL launch an Investigation over Hambantota Port Police

Editor

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) and the National Police Commission (NHRC) have launched an investigation into the brutal assault by the Hambantota Port Police. Weerasekera Kamkanamge Tharuka Lakshan, a married and father of two is a resident of Ballagaswewa, Hambantota, was assaulted by the police on a day of June. A resident of the same village had lodged a false complaint with the Hambantota Port Police against Tharuka who runs a garage to make a living. Tharuka had gone to the police on that day to face…

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A drunken police constable assaults two 16-year-old students.

Editor

An incident of a police constable of the Hambantota Port Police has assaulted two students of a technical college on the road has reported to the Aithiya website. The victim was identified as Pahasara Sudusinghe, 16 years old, a resident of Godawaya, Hambantota. On the 5th July this student was participated at shramadana campaign at the Mirijjawila Technical Training College. At around 5.00 pm when he was on the way to return home with a friend, a constable in Hambantota Port Police and another person who arrived on a motorbike…

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Kanda Udage Malika Vs D.M. Aberathna and others SC/ FR/ 157/2014

Editor

On the May 7, 2014 Sandun Malinga, a 17 year old boy and four others with him were beaten by police officers, arrested and detained at the Kandaketiya police in the Badulla district. Sandun and the other four were taken to the District Medical Officer (DMO), brought back to the police, taken to a Magistrate and remanded in the Badulla remand prison in the evening. The following day, May 9, around 5.30 am his brother who had been also remanded saw Sandun panting and struggling for breath and alerted the…

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Kandaketiya Judgement and Continuing Deaths in State Custody – Ruki Fernando

Editor

On the May 7, 2014 Sandun Malinga, a 17 year old boy and four others with him were beaten by police officers, arrested and detained at the Kandaketiya police in the Badulla district. The next day, around 2.30 am, Sandun complained of chest pains when his mother visited him at the police station but police officers refused the mother’s request to admit him to hospital. The mother visited him again around 7.30 am and saw him in a bad condition, lying on the cold floor while crying. When she had…

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Public trust in government and police has eroded – SLCAT writes to IGP

Editor

The Sri Lankan Collective Against Torture says that when government authorities abuse power with arbitrary enforcement of the law against marginalised people in the society and In refusing to provide security to those people caused to erode public in state institute including government and police. They have stated this addressing IGP Mr. Wickramaratne in a letter titled as “preventing arbitrary detentions and deaths in custody”. The signatories of this letter are Anuradhapura Citizen’s Committee, Center for Policy Alternative, Centre for Human Rights and Development, Dabindu Collective, Human Rights Office Kandy,…

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Fears of a new wave of disappearances in Sri Lanka – Brito Fernando

Editor

A leading organization fighting against forced disappearances warns that the recent abduction of a social activist, carried out by a group clad in plain clothes during the night, could be the beginning of a new wave of disappearances in Sri Lanka Family members of Movement for Public Rights Protection (MPRP) Convenor Asela Sampath allege that a group of around 20 persons clad in plain clothes abducted Sampath at his residence on the night of 25 June without citing any reason whatsoever. The incident took place when the President was addressing…

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“21 Years Without Justice – A sister’s long journey to seeking justice” launched today. – K. Sanjeewa.

Editor

Sri Lanka is a criminal state. This story proves it. But we have to change this situation somehow. We have to fight continously… The person who is responsible for this murder is fugitive and is still at large even after 21 years. The case still pending in the Kalutara High Court under case number HC570/13 could be the longest criminal case in the world and still not come to an end. It’s been 21 years and case is still under investigation. What is the truth behind the torture case of…

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The International Day for the Support of Victims of Torture is Today!

Editor

Today, June 26, is International Day for the Support of Victims of Torture. This day is an annual international celebration by the United Nation. It is a day to speak out against the crime of torture and to honor and support victims as well as survivors around the world. The aim is to pay tribute to the victims of various forms of torture, and to dedicate a day to remembering and supporting the many victims of torture around the world. The UN General Assembly has declared today for two reasons,…

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“All relevant authorities shall take active measures to prevent torture” Chairman, HRCSL

Editor

In December 1997, The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 26th June as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, to commemorate the historic day in 1987, in which the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the key international instrument against torture came into effect. It appeals to all member states to implement the Convention in full effect with the intention of eradicating torture in all its forms across the world. It also requests for support from all stakeholders, civil society and individuals to…

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A Statement by SLCAT on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

Editor

Today as we mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we the undersigned express grave concern about the increasing use of torture in Sri Lanka. During the last year, we witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic cause unimaginable challenges to Sri Lankans. In this context of deep instability and uncertainty, Sri Lankan citizens have been made to feel more insecure through the increasing use of violence by the police. SLCAT recognizes at least 30 reported incidents of torture, 22 and 5 custodial and extra judicial deaths between the period…

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