Category: News

An unofficial translation of National Prison Study lunch by SLCAT

Editor

During the months of April and September 2018, the former National Human Rights Commission had conducted a study on prisons and inmates in Sri Lanka. This study report provides data on living conditions inside their prisons, sanitation, humanitarian transactions, food, and the needs and rights that an inmate must meet and make recommendations in this regard. It was prepared in English by the Human Rights Commission and translated into Tamil and Sinhala by the Sri Lankan Collective against Torture and launched on January 25 at the Renuka Hotel, Colombo. Former…

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TID officers said I’m a terrorist because I didn’t own Buddhist books: Ahnaf Jazeem

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TID officers said I’m a terrorist because I didn’t own Buddhist books: Ahnaf Jazeem

Former PTA detainee poet : says they threatened to detain him for 20 years if he did not sign a confession Ahnaf Jazeem, a poet and teacher from the East of Sri Lanka, was arrested in May 2020 under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979 (PTA). Initially arrested in connection to his Tamil-language poetry anthology, titled Navarasam, which the authorities alleged to be promoting “extremist” ideologies, Jazeem was finally granted bail on 15 December, after over a year in prison. Speaking to the media for…

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Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission downgraded by UN body, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions

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SLHRC downgraded by UN body, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions

Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has been downgraded to B status by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), a United Nations Institute of National Human Rights Organisation. UN General Assembly adopted the guiding principals for NHRCs, known as “Paris Principals ” in 1993. Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the GANHRI was held in June 2021 but the report has been make public recently. This is the second time HRCSL has been downgraded by the GANHRI. First it was in 2007 only under the previous government it was…

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Negombo: Nine Police officers remanded

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Nine Police officers of the Negombo Division Police station, including the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Crimes Division, have been remanded until the 27th of December by the Avissawella Magistrate’s Court. According to Lankadeepa, the suspects were arrested by the Eheliyagoda Police after they had engaged in a brawl with area residents while bathing in a river in the Pannila area in Eheliyagoda. The Avissawella Magistrate’s Court has remanded the suspects until an identification parade is conducted. The suspects who have been remanded are the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Crimes Division…

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Accused of enforced disappearance of 11 youth, Rear Admiral Karannagoda to be appointed as a Governor

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Karannagoda to be appointed as a Governor

Admiral of the Fleet, Wasantha Karannagoda is tipped to be appointed as the Governor of the North Western Province The Morning reports. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed dozens of serving and retired military generals to influential administration positions. This appointment also seen as a continuation of militarisation of administration under Rajapaksa. Karannagoda’s new appointment is likely to take place later today (09). War time Navy commander is 14th accused of the case of abduction and enforced disappearance 11 young men in the Abduction of 11 Youth between August 2008 and…

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Podi Lassi’s mother appeals to United Nation about life threat

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A mother has sought the help of the United Nations to save the life of her son, who has been in police custody for more than a year. She has taken this step due to her practical experience that those who have complained to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Police regarding the risk to their lives will not benefit from those institutions. In a letter to the UN Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Colombo on Tuesday (November 30) through the Committee to…

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Foreign intervention against custodial deaths?

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The Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) said yesterday (28) that it would have to seek international intervention regarding the spate of custodial deaths that recently occured in Sri Lanka, as domestic mechanisms have already been “exhausted without any proper progress made”. “The latest incident of a death in custody is that of Hewa Lunuwilage Lasantha, alias ‘Tinker Lasantha’. We write the same letters to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) and to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) when such an incident happens. We have…

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BASL reveals attempts were taken to stop Police killing suspect in custody

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Prior information had been received that attempts are underway to kill Hewalunuwilage Lasantha alias ‘Tinkar Lasantha’ while in Police custody, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) revealed today. Lasantha, who is the chief suspect wanted over the murder of underworld figure ‘Sunshine Suddha’ was killed in a shootout with the Police this morning while being escorted to recover hidden weapons. Issuing a statement, the BASL said the President of the Association had informed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) via email and text message in this regard, and yet…

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Another victim hit by police bullet!

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A suspect who was in police custody has been shot dead by the police today (26). The deceased has been identified as Lasantha of Hewalunuwila. He is the main suspect in the murder Amila Prasanna Hettihewa alias of Sunshine Sudda who was killed on September 4th at Warakapitiya in Weligama, Matara. The suspect was arrested by the Kalutara Divisional Crime Investigation Unit in the Diyagama area. He later went to show his hidden weapons and was shot dead by police as he tried to flee, police said. According to the police, he…

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Minister denies Police killed SJB supporter in custody

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An individual who was in the custody of the Panamura Police has reportedly died while in Police custody early this morning. Nearly 1000 people have gathered at the Police station to protest over the death, claiming that it was suspicious and the victim had died after being assaulted by the Police. The Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) also staged a protest in Parliament today, holding placards inside the chamber, stating that the victim was a man who had attended the SJB rally in Colombo yesterday. They charged that the Police had…

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