Author: editor
Police Sub-Inspector arrested over Matara shooting
A Sub-Inspector has been interdicted by the Police and has been arrested by a special Police team which is conducting an investigation into the shooting of a 15-year old boy in Thihagoda, Matara. The Police Spokesperson said that during a scuffle with a police officer, the officer’s firearm was accidentally discharged and the 15-year old was injured. The Police said that steps were taken to inspect a suspicious three-wheeler in Naimbula,Thihagoda. Three people had fled while two others were taken into police custody. It was during this process that one…
Read MoreAmarakirthi Athukorala’s wife speaks!
Being killed in the rehabilitation process | Kandakadu
HRC demands answers from IGP for police violence at Galle Face
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has demanded an explanation from the IGP for Sunday’s police violence at Galle Face Green against people, including children, who were peacefully commemorating those who had fallen in the Aragalaya. The HRCSL decided to launch an investigation of its own volition and has given the IGP 24 hours to explain on what grounds police dispersed the commemoration. Footage of police brutality against two small children who had come with their parents to Galle Face Green has gone viral on social media worldwide and…
Read MoreSuppression of rights using the Prevention of Terrorism Act
Under the infamous PTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) enacted in 1979, the defense minister could detain anyone for 90 days on “suspicion of terrorist activities”. The Defense Minister can extend the detention up to 180 days. The PTA gives the police broad powers to arbitrarily arrest and detain anyone without charge.The use of torture to obtain confessions by the police in Sri Lanka is allowed to present these “confessions” as evidence in court.The government has the power under the PTA to ban any organization it deems “terrorist,” and it can…
Read MoreIllegal arrests and illegal detentions damage the legal system
By BASIL FERNANDO Illegal arrests and illegal detentions do not only harm individuals, they also cause irreparable damage to the legal system as a whole. The recent wave of arrests of those who have participated in peaceful demonstrations has not only caused serious damage to the life and liberty of these individuals but they have caused even much greater damage to the entire legal system of Sri Lanka. This damage will continue to make its impact felt on the system long after these particular incidents have passed and even been…
Read MoreEven if we earn, we need dollars to eat | Philip Dissanayake
Minimum powers of riot control and police | SDIG Priyantha Jayakody
Expressing concern over the statement issued by the HRC
The Sri Lanka Collective Against Torture (SLCAT) is gravely concerned about the statement issued by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) dated 30 June 2022 titled ‘HRCSL condemns the false media broadcast made by the President of the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners’. The Commission, at the conclusion of its inquiry into the allegation made by Mr. Senaka Perera, President of the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners, that imprisoned persons were used on 9 May 2022 to attack peaceful protestors, makes many assertions and allegations that…
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