Category: News

The Sri Lanka Collective Against Torture (SLCAT) convened on 13th February to discuss critical issues pertaining to human rights violations, focusing on the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the Yukthiya anti-drugs operation. SLCAT, established in 2009, comprises 27 organizations collaborating to eliminate torture in Sri Lanka. During the meeting, Philip Dissanayake, a representative of SLCAT, highlighted the organization’s commitment to evaluating the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, particularly in relation to torture, and publishing a comprehensive report this year. The discussion extensively covered concerns about the PTA and…

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In a shocking turn of events, the demise of businessman Govindhasami Krishnakumar while in custody has sparked a series of unanswered questions and raised concerns about the circumstances leading to his arrest and subsequent tragic end. Dhanapalan Sivashankar, the brother of the deceased, filed a formal complaint, expressing deep distress over the sequence of events that unfolded. Krishnakumar, a businessman from the Ragala region, faced financial challenges due to the economic downturn exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Legal proceedings were initiated against him by a businessman from Negombo, leading to…

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The Sri Lanka Police have initiated a thorough investigation into the death of a 22-year-old suspect who passed away while in police custody on Tuesday, January 30th. The deceased, a known drug user, was apprehended by the Anuradhapura Range Criminal Investigation Division, and the case is being led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police. According to a senior police official, the suspect fell critically ill while detained in a police cell and was subsequently transferred to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, where he later succumbed to his condition. The cause of…

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Geneva, 22 January 2024 – United Nations experts have raised serious concerns over Sri Lanka’s aggressive security-driven approach to combat drug-related issues, urging authorities to suspend and review Operation ‘Yukthiya’ immediately. The experts emphasized the need for a shift towards policies centered on health and human rights, condemning the reported arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment of thousands of drug offenders from marginalized groups. In a joint statement, the UN experts underscored the fundamental human rights of drug users, asserting that they deserve to lead lives free from discrimination and stigmatization. The…

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  In a distressing turn of events, a man lost his life in Dampelessa, Narammala, as a result of police gunfire on the evening of January 18. According to Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa, the incident transpired when a group of police officers pursued a lorry whose driver failed to comply with a signal to stop at a police checkpoint in the Dampelessa area. After a brief chase, the police successfully intercepted the lorry and initiated an inspection of the vehicle. Unfortunately, during the inspection process, an inadvertent discharge…

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A coalition of prominent international human rights organizations has raised alarms over the intensification of anti-drug operations in Sri Lanka, citing significant human rights violations and urging the government to immediately cease the controversial operation named “Yukthiya.” In a joint statement, the organizations expressed deep concern about the reported violations, including arbitrary arrests, invasive searches, and the involvement of the armed forces in the operation. The operation, spearheaded by Acting Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennekoon on December 17, 2023, has drawn widespread criticism for its severe impact on individuals…

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The Sri Lanka Collective Against Torture (SLCAT) has issued a resounding call for immediate action following the recent Supreme Court judgment in SCFR 107/2011, underscoring the imperative need to address institutionalized violence within the Sri Lankan Police Department. The statement, released in response to the judgment dated 14th December 2023, highlights grave concerns about the routine and systemic nature of cruel treatment and torture perpetrated by officers of the Sri Lanka police against citizens. Specifically, the judgment found Deshabandu Tennekoon, Senior Superintendent of Police for the Western province, responsible for…

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In a shocking turn of events, legal professionals and academics in Sri Lanka have issued an open letter to the President, urging immediate action following a landmark Supreme Court decision in the case of Sumangala v Bandara and Others (SCFR 107/2011). The three-judge bench unanimously ruled that Respondents, including Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, violated fundamental rights by engaging in torture, unlawful arrest, and arbitrary administrative actions. The Court emphasized that such actions undermined core values of the Rule of Law and Democracy, implicating the State’s obligations under international law applicable…

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– Ajith Perakum Jayasinghe Student X studied in grade 11 of Navodya Maha Vidyalaya, Dodangoda. On the occasion of the Poson festival that year, the Dodangoda police organized a lantern competition and this photograph shows the lantern rotating inside a bottle presented by the student. The design won the first prize in the competition and he received the prize for it on stage, when the name of the school was announced. The principal of the school, Sarojini Nirmala Kothalawala was angry that the student got on the stage and received…

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  Colombo, December 12, 2023: In commemoration of the 75th International Human Rights Day, the Sri Lankan Collective Against Torture organized an event titled “The Root of Police Torture.” A policy dialogue, themed “Context and Solutions,” was conducted on December 11th at the Laxman Kadiragamar Center in Colombo 07. Distinguished guests at the event included Honorable Minister of Justice, Mr. Wijayadasa Rajapaksa; former Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Priyantha Jayakodi; Forensic Medicine Professor, Mr. Clifford Perera; lawyer, Mr. Dulan Dasanayake; and social activist, Mrs. Amita Priyanthi. Addressing the…

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