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Colombo High Court Sentences Couple to Death for Child Abuse and Murder

March 6, 2025March 7, 2025 editor

Colombo, March 6 – The Colombo High Court has sentenced a couple to death for the abuse and murder of a two-year-old child following adoption. Delivering the verdict today, High Court Judge Sujeewa Nissanka ruled that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. The case, filed by the Attorney General, pertained to an incident that occurred in Maligawatta on May 1, 2018. The couple, both around 35 years old, were found guilty of subjecting the child to severe torture, leading to his death. During the trial, police…

Sri Lankan Courts Face Massive Backlog with Over 1.1 Million Pending Cases

March 1, 2025March 3, 2025 editor

The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice and National Integration has been informed that a staggering 1,131,818 cases remain pending in Sri Lankan courts, raising concerns over delays in the country’s judicial system. The revelation highlights the significant backlog across various levels of the judiciary, affecting both civil and criminal cases. Legal experts warn that such delays undermine public trust in the justice system and hinder access to timely legal remedies. Officials have pointed to multiple factors contributing to the backlog, including a shortage of judges, inefficiencies in court proceedings, and…

Colombo Court Issues Notice to Dematagoda Police OIC Over Alleged Torture Incident

January 22, 2025January 22, 2025 editor

The Colombo Additional Magistrate’s Court has issued a notice to the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Dematagoda Police following allegations of detaining, stripping, and brutally assaulting an individual. The complaint, brought to the court’s attention by the victim’s legal counsel, alleges that a three-wheeler driver was detained for seven days without being produced in court. During his detention, he was reportedly stripped naked and subjected to severe physical abuse by police officers. According to the victim’s lawyer, the incident began on January 2 when the driver was summoned to Dematagoda for…

HRCSL Addresses Social Media Harassment of Women in Report to UN Committee

January 10, 2025 editor

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has raised critical concerns about the harassment and abuse faced by women on social media platforms. This issue was a focal point in the Parallel Report submitted by the HRCSL to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) on January 6, 2025. As a signatory to the CEDAW Convention, Sri Lanka is obligated to safeguard women from all forms of violence, including digital abuse. The HRCSL’s report highlighted the increasing prevalence of online harassment, particularly targeting women…

Petition Filed Seeking Legal Action in 2020 Mahara Prison Riot Deaths

December 26, 2024December 30, 2024 editor

A petition has been submitted to the Court of Appeal, urging the resumption of legal proceedings concerning the deaths of 11 inmates during the 2020 Mahara Prison riots. The petition also seeks directives for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and other relevant authorities to take further action. This legal move follows a letter from the Attorney General’s (AG) Department to the CID, describing the incident as an act of self-defense by the police under Section 77 of the Prisons Ordinance. The AG’s Department had subsequently indicated its intention to close…

HRCSL Marks Human Rights Day 2024 with Four Key Publications

December 10, 2024 editor

Colombo, December 10, 2024 – The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) celebrated International Human Rights Day at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) with the theme “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.” The event emphasized the need for immediate action on human rights challenges to build a more sustainable and inclusive future. A key highlight of the event was the launch of four significant publications, underscoring HRCSL’s commitment to advancing human rights in Sri Lanka. Overview of the Publications Guidelines and Recommendations Two dedicated documents provide actionable…

Controversy Over Attorney General’s Move to Close Mahara Prison Case

November 23, 2024 editor

Welisara Magistrate Thusitha Dhammika Uduwavidana expressed surprise yesterday over the Attorney General’s decision to close the case file concerning the deaths of 11 inmates during the 2020 Mahara Prison unrest. The Magistrate raised concerns about the decision during a hearing at the Welisara Magistrate’s Court, noting that the Attorney General had previously assured the Court of Appeal that indictments against the officials implicated in the incident would be filed within three months. Prominent attorney and rights advocate, Senaka Perera, highlighted the seriousness of the Attorney General’s directive to halt further…

Supreme Court to Hear Women’s Rights Violation Petition

November 23, 2024 editor

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a fundamental rights petition filed by a group, including Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, alleging police misconduct during a peaceful protest in Polduwa in 2023. The petition accuses former Acting Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon and several officers of violating the rights of women from the National People’s Power during the protest. The case will be heard by a bench comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Achala Wengappuli, and Priyantha Fernando. The respondents include Deshabandu Tennakoon, Officers-in-Charge (OICs) of the Welikada, Thalangama, and Mirihana…

16-year-old student dies months after assault by teachers

November 17, 2024November 17, 2024 editor

A 16-year-old girl from a well-known school in Wennappuwa has passed away following a serious head injury, allegedly caused by two teachers. She had been in the hospital for over three months before she died on November 13 while receiving treatment at the Ragama Teaching Hospital. The post-mortem examination confirmed that the student died from brain bleeding caused by the assault. The incident occurred on August 9 when the teachers punished the student and another classmate for taking over 20 minutes to return to the classroom. The teachers reportedly hit…

An In-Depth Analysis of Violence Against Children in Sri Lanka: August 2024

November 15, 2024 editor

Child abuse remains a critical issue in Sri Lanka, as highlighted by ECPAT Sri Lanka’s media monitoring report for August 2024. This analysis provides a sobering insight into the various forms of violence affecting children and underscores the pervasive nature of the problem. Overview of Reported Incidents In August 2024, 94 incidents involving 108 victims of child abuse were reported through media coverage. These cases span diverse forms of abuse, each with significant impacts on children’s well-being. Types of Abuse Sexual Abuse: The most reported category, with 41 incidents…