Category: News

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…

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A disabled prisoner has been hospitalized following an alleged assault by a prison guard at the Weerawila Open Prison Camp. The prisoner, W.A. Nishan Sanjeewa Hetti Arachchi, a resident of Badalgama, Katukenda, was arrested by the Mattakkuliya Police on October 22, 2024, for possession of 200 milligrams of heroin. On October 23, 2024, the Mattakkuliya Court imposed a fine of Rs. 7,000 on him. Unable to pay the fine, he was sentenced to six months in prison and sent to Welikada Prison, from where he was transferred to the Weerawila…

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Colombo High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige ordered a five-year suspension of an attorney’s legal license following an investigation prompted by a complaint filed by the judge himself. According to the complaint, the attorney, who had been appointed by the government to represent a defendant in a criminal case before the Colombo High Court, failed to appear in court for three consecutive days. During the hearing, the attorney admitted to the charges. Subsequently, Supreme Court Judge S. Thurairaja, along with Justices Mahinda Samayawardhana and Arjuna Obeysekara, announced the decision, stating that…

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By Basil Fernando As Sri Lanka commemorates the 30th anniversary of its ratification of the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT), the time has come to reflect deeply on both the progress made and the persistent gaps that hinder the full realization of this vital human rights treaty. Though Sri Lanka has shown some legislative advancement over the decades, the country continues to grapple with endemic torture and ill-treatment, particularly in police custody. Despite the proactive efforts of organizations like the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and other advocates, the state’s…

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The Attorney General has withdrawn the case related to the deaths of 11 inmates at Mahara Prison during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Attorney General, it was concluded following a comprehensive investigation that the police Special Task Force officers had acted lawfully to protect both officers and inmates during the incident. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that officers had not exceeded their right to personal safety, as established under law. Consequently, the Attorney General indicated that no further legal action would be necessary, and the case would…

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A media organization has requested the implementation of court rulings issued against the police for torturing suspects. In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, Ravi Seneviratne, the Young Journalists’ Association pointed out that, despite numerous rulings by the Supreme Court and the Human Rights Commission over the years against illegal arrests, detentions, and torture by the police, these rulings have yet to be implemented, allowing police brutality to persist. Over the past few years, the Human Rights Commission has delivered 51 rulings against police…

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