Category: News

Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasuriya has instructed Sri Lanka Police officers to strictly follow the guidelines issued by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) to protect the rights of transgender individuals. He emphasized that the HRCSL receives daily complaints regarding instances where police officers allegedly violate the human rights of transgender people while carrying out their duties. In response, the Acting IGP has directed all officers to ensure that their conduct aligns with the Commission’s guidelines, reinforcing the importance of upholding human rights…

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Colombo, March 19 – An inmate who was injured in an assault during a drug test at the Magazine Prison has reportedly succumbed to his injuries. According to reports, two prison officers and two fellow inmates have been charged in connection with the brutal attack. The deceased, identified as 54-year-old Hewadheera Don Gemunujith, was a father of one. He had been arrested and remanded by the Maharagama Police on the 23rd of last month on charges of trafficking the drug. According to police sources, the incident took place on the…

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The Batalanda Commission report which goes into details of what happened during the JVP insurrection of 1987-89 has become the centre of public attention. The controversy has long been a point of contention and a reminder of the country’s troubled past and entrenched divisions that still exist. The events that occurred at Batalanda during the violent suppression of the JVP-led insurgency, remain a raw wound, as seen in the sudden resurfacing of the issue. The scars of violence and war still run deep. At a time when the country is…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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