Category: News

Vasanthapuram, Mannar Guru: In a disturbing incident reported to the Mannar Human Rights Commission, a family residing in Vasanthapuram village has accused the police at Adampan police station of threats and gunfire, claiming their lives are in jeopardy. Y. Sakhayarani, a mother of four from Vattakandal, Vasanthapuram, Guruvil, submitted a formal complaint to the commission, along with copies sent to the Mannar Senior Superintendent of Police and the Mannar District Socio-Economic Development Agency. According to Sakhayarani, the ordeal began on the evening of the 1st of December, when three plainclothes…

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In a shocking turn of events, a 14-year-old student, Narayanan Anandadevan Darsath, found himself at the center of a tragedy that has left his family devastated and the community grappling with unsettling questions. The young boy was arrested on November 16 by the Batticaloa-Kokkuvil police, accused of stealing a lamp and a bell. Following his arrest, Narayanan was swiftly brought to court on November 17, where a decision was made to place him in a child rehabilitation camp. However, the situation took a grim turn when, on November 29, the…

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In a dedicated effort to tackle a pressing issue impacting our most vulnerable, an upcoming webinar titled “Screening, Documentation, and Monitoring of Torture in Children” is scheduled for December 6, 2023, at 3 PM CET. This event aims to spotlight the critical need for identifying, documenting, and monitoring cases of torture among children. Hosted on Zoom, the webinar invites concerned individuals, advocates, and professionals to actively participate and contribute to the collective mission of combating child torture. To register for the event, simply follow this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pdO2gpjgvG9IrdyTSMmPeiPDCFS_4ca2-. Scheduled to be…

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Four police officers have been detained in connection with the death of an individual, Nagaraja Alex (26), while in police custody in Jaffna. Nagaraja Alex passed away in police custody, reportedly as a result of an assault by police officers. In compliance with directives from the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court issued yesterday, the four police officers have been taken into custody. According to the postmortem report, the young man’s demise was attributed to kidney damage caused by an alleged assault. The youth, along with another suspect, was apprehended by the Vaddukottai…

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In a press release issued today, the Right to Life Human Rights Center of Sri Lanka (R2L) has demanded justice for the untimely death of 25-year-old Nagarasa Alex, who reportedly succumbed to injuries inflicted during his custody by the Sri Lankan police. This tragic incident has ignited a fervent call for comprehensive police reform and the immediate implementation of amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) to empower magistrates in overseeing the conditions within police stations and prisons. Nagarasa Alex, a resident of Sithankerni, Jaffna, was arrested on November 8,…

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In a tragic incident that has raised serious concerns about police conduct and human rights in Sri Lanka, a 26-year-old Tamil youth, Nagarasa Alex, was found dead in police custody on Sunday, November 19. Alex, hailing from the war-affected north of Sri Lanka, had been arrested by the police in Vaddukoddai on November 8 on charges related to burglary. The family of the deceased alleges that Alex was subjected to severe torture during his time in custody, and they believe that timely intervention by the country’s Human Rights Commission could…

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On November 14th, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling, declaring that the arrest of Ramzy Razeek in April 2020, under the ICCPR Act, infringed upon his Fundamental Rights. Consequently, the State has been directed to compensate him with Rs 1 million. In a noteworthy move, Chief Inspector B.M.A.S.K. Senaratne, the first respondent, and former CID Director DIG W. Thilakaratne, the second respondent, have been personally instructed to pay Rs 30,000 to the petitioner, Mr. Razeek, within one month from their own funds. Moreover, the Supreme Court has mandated the…

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In a distressing turn of events, the peaceful and continuous protests held by Thimbirigasyaya residents in front of the Thimbirigasaya Health Guard Pharmacy are under siege, as an organized mob attempted to disrupt the demonstration on November 12, 2023. The silent protest, which has persisted for 234 consecutive times since April 7, 2022, has faced escalating threats, prompting concerns for the safety and constitutional rights of the demonstrators. Reports indicate that a group of approximately 40 individuals orchestrated a violent attack, with evidence pointing towards a well-coordinated effort involving multiple…

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By Dr.Thushara Wickramanayake “History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children” – Nelson Mandela Three decades after ratifying the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the treaty signed by the largest number of countries in the world, Sri Lanka’s rhetorical promises to protect and promote the rights of children is a crystal-clear reflection of the history of the nation that has failed many generations. During the recent uprising ‘Aragalaya’, the citizens demanded “a better country for our children” but the…

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On October 23, a young man filed a formal complaint with the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission, accusing officers from the Kesbewa Police Station of violently assaulting him and issuing death threats. The incident took place on the 17th when multiple police officers apprehended him without any apparent reason. They then transported him to a secluded area, where they restrained him and subjected him to physical abuse, according to the victim’s statement. In addition to the assault, the complainant asserted that his wife was held at the police station until…

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