Category: Judgements

Four Senior Police Officers Face Court Over Brutal Custody Torture in Malimbada

Editor

Four police officers, including inspectors from the Malimbada Police Station, have been arrested and presented with indictments at the Matara High Court for allegedly brutally and inhumanely assaulting a young man who was taken into custody four years ago. The High Court Judge has ordered the police to release them on strict bail conditions and to appear again on the 28th. The case involves the arrest and cruel assault of 27-year-old Dilshan Madushanka, who was detained for six days at both Malimbada and Matara police stations based on false intelligence…

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Police Brutality in Sri Lanka: A Taxi Driver’s Ordeal Raises Concerns About Law Enforcement

Editor

In a disturbing incident highlighting concerns about police conduct in Sri Lanka, taxi driver D.S. Wijeysekara’s routine evening on January 2, 2025, turned into a nightmare when he was forcibly taken to Dematagoda police station. What began as a standard service call ended in brutal interrogation regarding the discovery of an infant’s body in a local garbage dump. The legal aftermath proved equally troubling. Wijeysekara’s lawyer charged Rs. 25,000 merely for visiting the police station and speaking with him, plus another Rs. 25,000 for bail proceedings. The lawyer advised against…

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Nine terror suspects detained in Sri Lanka

Editor

Sri Lankan police have arrested nine individuals, including two Maldivians, and an ex-LTTE cadre, over a foiled terror plot targeting tourists at the Arugambay surfing resort. The suspects, including six others accused of gathering intelligence and video footage of the area, are suspected to be linked to an international network. Two additional suspects—a Maldivian and an Afghan—are being pursued through Interpol red notices. Police’s terrorist investigation division on January 18 produced before Colombo Fort Magistrate Court the three suspects, two Maldivians and a local resident, arrested in connection with the…

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Prison Torture Claims: 21-Year-Old Victim Reduced to Constant Falling After Brutal Beatings

Editor

In the Mawatwewa area of Anuradhapura, a 21-year-old man named Indika Kumara was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a woman. During his time in prison, prison officers have been beating him daily and have even inserted a stick into his anal passage. After being released on bail and returning home, he has now been reduced to a state of constant leg paralysis, unable to walk and frequently falling down. Prior to his imprisonment, he had no pre-existing medical conditions, and according to doctors, this medical condition has arisen solely…

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contempt of court and legal framework

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The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is a regional human rights organization. The organization seriously monitored and studied the law on contempt of court and its application in Sri Lanka. The AHRC is deeply concerned about the violation of Sri Lankan Constitution, which is in line with international law, by depriving the accused of the protection of the law. The AHRC pays special attention to the interpretation of international law as well as the Constitution of Sri Lanka by Article 105 (3) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. The logic…

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Jayamuni Anuradha Nilmini Vijesekara Vs .Sumedha Thushanga and others SC (FR) 449/2017

Editor

Chadik Shaman (42), who died of a police assault after being arrested by the Peliyagoda Police on February 25, 2017. Chadik Shamen, a father of two, was illegally arrested by a group of plainclothes police officers of Peliyagoda police without filing any charges. The next day, his wife received a phone call informing that Chadik was dead. Later, at the post-mortem examination at the Colombo National Hospital, the JMO had told to Chadik’s wife that the body had been subjected to severe torture  and that the death had occurred as…

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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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Hewa Maddumage Karunapala and others Vs Jayantha Prema Kumara Siriwardhana and others SC/FR/97/2017

Editor

The fundamental rights petition was filed by the parents of the 15-year-old victim, Hewa Maddumage Karunapala and Pallekkamkanamlage Dona Kumuduni against six persons including teacher Jayantha Premakumara Siriwardana and principal M. Leelawathi. The child petitioner was slapped across the face by Mr. Siriwardhana, teacher- in -Charge of discipline and sectional head of Puhulwella College. The action had resulted in the student a ruptured eardrum and permanently losing his hearing ability in the left ear.  Considering the petition, affidavit and written submission of the petitioners and the respondent as well Supreme…

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Leelawathie Hariot Perera and others vs. N.K. Illangakoon, Inspector General of Police, and others SC /FR/ Application No 372/2015

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As submitted on behalf of the Petitioners, one Rumesh Liroshan Fernando who was only 20 years at the time of his untimely demise, was a victim of a stabbing which took place on 24th October 2010. The victim had succumbed to his injuries at Kalubowila Hospital, and the Police Officers 3 who investigated into the death of the above named deceased, had reported the facts before the Hon. Magistrate of Moratuwa on 25.10.2010 under B Report No 1677/10. The 4th Respondent to the present application namely Widanalage Amesh Asantha de…

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Naomi Michelle Cokeman vs The Hon. Attorney General Attorney General’s Department S.C (FR) Application 136/2014

Editor

On the day in question as pleaded Petitioner arrived in Sri Lanka at the Katunayake airport. All official steps as clearance from Customs AND Immigrations were attended and was permitted entry. She proceeded towards the exit of the airport. Petitioner was approached by a taxi driver called ‘Kelum’ who was later identified and another bystander informed her that the tattoo she was displaying on her right arm is objectionable in Sri Lanka. Thereafter another person claiming to be a member of the Civil Defence Force came to the scene and…

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