Author: editor

Two police officers serving at Alawwa Police were arrested on May 4, 2024, by officers from the Group Robbery Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with a suspected disappearance and unlawful detention that occurred 13 years ago. The arrested officers are Sergeant A.L. Kumara and Constable R.D.S.B. Rajapaksha. Both officers were produced before the Polgahawela Magistrate’s Court and were released on bail of Rs. 50,000 each. The incident, believed to have occurred around July 25, 2010, also led to the arrest of Chief Inspector Saman Kumara…

A Tamil MP has demanded the immediate arrest of two traffic policemen in connection with the death of a motorcyclist in Urumpirai, Jaffna, on May 10. TNPF’s Selvaraja Kajendran has also accused Chunnakam police of threatening eye witnesses in an attempt to conceal evidence. The incident involved 41-year-old Selvanayagam Pratheepan, who was returning home after working at his paddy field. He was ordered to stop by two constables attached to Palali police. When Pratheepan did not stop, the officers allegedly ambushed him and kicked his motorcycle, causing it to crash…

The Right to Life Human Rights Centre (R2L) has unveiled its second torture monitoring report, titled “TRUTH: Targeting Rights: Unraveling Torture’s Harm.” This quarterly publication is a critical resource for understanding the prevalence of torture in Sri Lanka, highlighting measures to prevent it, and detailing legal actions against perpetrators. The report’s key aims are to monitor the incidence of torture, document preventive measures, and track legal proceedings against those responsible for torture. R2L asserts that “TRUTH” is vital for promoting accountability and achieving justice for torture victims in Sri Lanka.…

The Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar has acquitted four Sri Lanka Army personnel implicated in the Rathupaswala shooting incident, which resulted in the deaths of three individuals during a protest in 2013. The verdict, delivered over 11 years after the tragic event, was issued by a panel of High Court Judges—Nimal Ranaweera, Nishantha Hapuarachchi, and Sahan Mapa. The acquitted individuals include an Army officer and three soldiers. The incident occurred on August 1, 2013, in the Weliweriya area of Rathupaswala, Gampaha, when villagers were protesting against a factory accused of contaminating…

Melsiripura police have arrested two individuals, including a school student, on charges of stealing an air rifle and a mobile phone from a house. The student claims he was subjected to police brutality during the arrest. According to the student, he was the only one taken to the police station by three officers, who allegedly handcuffed and beat him while being transported in a police tricycle. The other two arrested individuals were not punished, the student reported. The student also stated that the police demanded all three pay 22,000 rupees…

On May 17, 2024, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka issued a landmark order requiring former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Army Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake to testify regarding the controversial presidential pardon granted to Ratnayake. This case, involving the 2000 killing of eight civilians, including a child, in Mirusuvil, Jaffna, marks a significant moment in Sri Lanka’s pursuit of transitional justice. The court’s directive mandates that Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who issued the pardon during his presidency, must explain his rationale for the decision. Concurrently, Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake has been ordered to provide…

Three children in Wijayakatupotha village were allegedly subjected to excessive corporal punishment while in police custody, according to reports. The children were apprehended by officers from the Arachchikattuwa Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with a reported theft. The allegations detail that the children were not only beaten but also stripped naked and filmed during their detention. The parents, upon consulting with a lawyer, filed a complaint with the Child Protection Authority and notified the Halawatha Division Children and Women’s Bureau. The children were granted bail after a lawyer…