Tag: human rights violations in sri lanka

A man in Seeduwa shot to death by STF

Editor

A man who was traveling in a car was shot to death by the Police Special Task Force last night (17). The deceased has been identified as Lalith Wasantha Pintu (44), a resident of Katana, Seeduwa. According to Police Media Spokesman, Senior DIG Ajith Rohana, a group of STF officers had chased a suspicious whistle car on a tip which received to them. A person inside a car was injured when STF officers used their force to stop the car in the Baseline area in Seeduwa. He was later admitted…

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Another death at Peliyagoda police station!

Editor

The deceased is a 43 year old mother of two children who residing at Gemunu Mawatha, Peliyagoda. Peliyagoda Police arrested five persons including this woman when they have summoned to the police in connection with a clash between the two groups. Her relatives allege that she died because no action was taken to admit her to a hospital or give to necessary treatments even her relatives informed the police that she was a sick woman. Her daughter says her mother, who was in custody, screamed that she was having chest…

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One million rupees compensation for Sherman who died of police assault!

Editor

The Supreme Court today (14) has been ordered to pay one million rupees as compensation for violating fundamental rights to the petitioner Chadik Shaman (42), a resident of Ihala Bomriya, Kaduwela, who died of a police assault after being arrested by the Peliyagoda Police on February 25, 2017. Chadik Shaman, a father of two, was illegally arrested by a group of plainclothes police officers of Peliyagoda police who arrived at his residence on February 25, 2017 at around 04.00 am without filing any charges. The next day, his wife received…

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Jayamuni Anuradha Nilmini Vijesekara Vs .Sumedha Thushanga and others SC (FR) 449/2017

Editor

Chadik Shaman (42), who died of a police assault after being arrested by the Peliyagoda Police on February 25, 2017. Chadik Shamen, a father of two, was illegally arrested by a group of plainclothes police officers of Peliyagoda police without filing any charges. The next day, his wife received a phone call informing that Chadik was dead. Later, at the post-mortem examination at the Colombo National Hospital, the JMO had told to Chadik’s wife that the body had been subjected to severe torture  and that the death had occurred as…

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HRCSL launch an Investigation over Hambantota Port Police

Editor

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) and the National Police Commission (NHRC) have launched an investigation into the brutal assault by the Hambantota Port Police. Weerasekera Kamkanamge Tharuka Lakshan, a married and father of two is a resident of Ballagaswewa, Hambantota, was assaulted by the police on a day of June. A resident of the same village had lodged a false complaint with the Hambantota Port Police against Tharuka who runs a garage to make a living. Tharuka had gone to the police on that day to face…

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A drunken police constable assaults two 16-year-old students.

Editor

An incident of a police constable of the Hambantota Port Police has assaulted two students of a technical college on the road has reported to the Aithiya website. The victim was identified as Pahasara Sudusinghe, 16 years old, a resident of Godawaya, Hambantota. On the 5th July this student was participated at shramadana campaign at the Mirijjawila Technical Training College. At around 5.00 pm when he was on the way to return home with a friend, a constable in Hambantota Port Police and another person who arrived on a motorbike…

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Public trust in government and police has eroded – SLCAT writes to IGP

Editor

The Sri Lankan Collective Against Torture says that when government authorities abuse power with arbitrary enforcement of the law against marginalised people in the society and In refusing to provide security to those people caused to erode public in state institute including government and police. They have stated this addressing IGP Mr. Wickramaratne in a letter titled as “preventing arbitrary detentions and deaths in custody”. The signatories of this letter are Anuradhapura Citizen’s Committee, Center for Policy Alternative, Centre for Human Rights and Development, Dabindu Collective, Human Rights Office Kandy,…

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The International Day for the Support of Victims of Torture is Today!

Editor

Today, June 26, is International Day for the Support of Victims of Torture. This day is an annual international celebration by the United Nation. It is a day to speak out against the crime of torture and to honor and support victims as well as survivors around the world. The aim is to pay tribute to the victims of various forms of torture, and to dedicate a day to remembering and supporting the many victims of torture around the world. The UN General Assembly has declared today for two reasons,…

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“All relevant authorities shall take active measures to prevent torture” Chairman, HRCSL

Editor

In December 1997, The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 26th June as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, to commemorate the historic day in 1987, in which the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the key international instrument against torture came into effect. It appeals to all member states to implement the Convention in full effect with the intention of eradicating torture in all its forms across the world. It also requests for support from all stakeholders, civil society and individuals to…

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A Statement by SLCAT on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

Editor

Today as we mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we the undersigned express grave concern about the increasing use of torture in Sri Lanka. During the last year, we witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic cause unimaginable challenges to Sri Lankans. In this context of deep instability and uncertainty, Sri Lankan citizens have been made to feel more insecure through the increasing use of violence by the police. SLCAT recognizes at least 30 reported incidents of torture, 22 and 5 custodial and extra judicial deaths between the period…

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