Category: News

On November 29, 2020, 11 inmates died in an incident at Mahara Prison. More than 100 people including two prison officers were injured. The inhumanity aspect here is that nine out of the 11 dead have been confirmed to be Covid-19 patients. That means, a group of patients have been killed.  It was our observation that the cause of their killing was the result of a struggle for patient rights. As Jagath Weerasinghe, its superintendent, said about Mahara Prison, Mahara Prison is a special prison that holds people who have…

Read More

The Gampaha Human Rights Center reports that a prisoner in the Pallansena rehabilitation camp has fallen from a coconut tree and died. The officers of the rehabilitation center said that this man climbed the coconut tree out of anger with his wife and after he fell from the coconut tree and had an accident, he was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Negombo Hospital. The police officers did not inform his wife about this incident and the police officers told the wife about this when she visited her…

Read More

On April 19, 2022, a civilian was killed in a firing by the police during a public demonstration in Rambukkana. In this regard, the final recommendations of the investigations conducted by the Human Rights Commission has been forwarded to the Inspector General of Police on April 18. HRCSL final recommendations  

Read More

On October 28 2022, 15-year-old Harshaka Deshan was shot in the head by a Thihagoda police officer, and Harshaka is currently in a coma condition. This child has to buy special Milk powders recommended by doctors, pampers and other essentials for nutrition and hygiene. Also, Harshaka has to go to the hospital every month for medical treatment. Therefore, Harshaka’s parents have to spend a lot of money on transportation and buying essentials. Because of this they need support financially. Taking these facts into consideration, Harshak’s parents have taken legal action…

Read More

  A year has passed since the Rambukkana police opened fire on a public demonstration, killing one person and injuring another.But still the law does not seem to be implemented against the police officer who ordered this killing or the lower police officers who carried out this shooting. On April 19, 2022, there was a peaceful protest demanding fuel in Rambukkana town, and the police have not taken any disciplinary action against the then Kegalle in-charge SSP Keerthiratne, who came to the place drunk and ordered the murder. Instead, he…

Read More

The new Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) proposed by the Sri Lankan Government, designed to replace the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) of 1979, threatens to further exacerbate restrictions on the right to assembly and gravely curtail freedom of expression and press freedom, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said in a statement. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its Sri Lankan affiliates, the Sri Lankan Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), the Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (FMETU), and the Free Media Movement (FMM), in strongly condemning the bill and…

Read More

Professor Emeritus Jayadeva Uyangoda warned that the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill paves the way to label common citizens and terrorists. Addressing an online forum, he said that in order to implement the IMF program to solve the country’s economic crisis, the government has placed the burden on the poor and vulnerable, working class, and the middle class. “That will lead to a serious social issue in the country. The ruling elite are aware that this will lead to a social issue. They are now preparing for that. One preparatory measure is…

Read More

    – By Ambika Satkunanathan The good The Anti-Terrorism Bill gazetted on 22 March reproduces large parts of the draft counter-terrorism law formulated by the Yahapalana Government. The seeming protections include the affirmation of basic due process rights, i.e. being issued a document notifying arrest, women being searched by women Police officers, access to translations, and being produced before a magistrate every 14 days when detained under a Detention Order (DO). But are these safeguards adequate to protect constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights? Are they enough to prevent the continuation…

Read More

A prisoner who escaped from the Kegalle Remand Prison was shot by a prison guard 8th of march morning and died. Prisons Spokesman Chandana Ekanayaka said the inmate, 33-year-old Ajith Kumara, who was a resident of Malsiripura, was shot dead when he had made a daring escape from the Prison. The victim fell on the field near the Municipal Council building, which is adjacent to the prison, and died after being admitted to the Kegalle Hospital by the prison officials. The spokesman said the inmate was sentenced in prison for…

Read More

Lawyer Pulasthi Hevawasam and his Junior lawyer Harini Jayawardena worked to file fundamental rights cases on behalf of 3 out of 8 victims of the shooting incident in Rambukkana on 19th April through the mediation of Right to Life human rights centre and SLCAT collective. The cases has been filed for violating the fundamental rights of Ashen Chamikara, Lalit Deshapriya and Sahan. Also, arrangements have been made to file fundamental rights lawsuits for the remaining 05 victims in the future.

Read More