SRIYANI SILVA v IDDAMALGODA, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, POLICE STATION PAIYAGALA AND OTHERS | 2003 2SLR 63

The petitioner is the widow of an army deserter (deceased) against whom there was also an open warrant signed by the Magistrate for possession of illicit liquor and distilling equipment. On 12.06.2000 the 2nd respondent OIC (Crimes) Paiyagala Police Station, arrested the deserter and took him to the police station where he was detained until the 17th. The petitioner and deceased’s mother and sister stated that they visited the deceased on 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th and observed the deceased being assaulted and with serious injuries. The deceased also told…

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Guneththige Misilin Nona, Akkara Heththedeka, vs Muthubanda (10312), Police Constable Moragahahena Police Station, Moragahahena. Maheepala, Officer in Charge, S.C. (F/R) No. 429/2003

The 1st and the 2nd Petitioners are respectively the mother and sister of the deceased Thisera Sunil Hemachandra who died on 26th July 2003 (hereinafter referred to as the deceased), while allegedly in Police custody. The deceased was a Sri Lankan citizen and 32 years of age at the time of his death. The 1st Respondent was a Police constable attached to the Police Station at the time of the death of the deceased. The 2nd Respondent is the Officer in Charge of the Police Station. The 3rd Respondent is…

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RATNAYAKE AND ANOTHER vs MEDIWAKA, DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, KANDY AND OTHERS S. C (FR) 231/2003

The petitoners were owners of Hotel “Sunray’’ Kandy and complained to the Police and the court that on 10.04.2003 they had invited about 30 persons to celebrate an award which their son had received from Trinity College. While they were awaiting the arrival of guests, some of whom had arrived, about 30 persons dressed in camouflage uniform arrived with T-56 rifles and entered the hotel and searched it. The 2nd and 3rd respondents who were police officers attached to the Kandy Police were there. They showed a search warrant. The…

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SARJUN v KAMALDEEN AND TWO OTHERS SC FR 559/03

The petitioner and 3 others were transporting household furniture in their lorry, from Colombo to Katuwana. As they reached Habarana at night, he decided to spend the night at Habarana and parked the lorry on the side of the road. The petitioner had a permit to transport obtained under the Forest Ordinance, although a permit was not necessary.The petitioner claims that he obtained same out of an abundance of caution valid from 1 p.m. on 18.9.03 to 12 noon 19.9.03. Later in the night the 1st respondent came up to…

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SARJUN v KAMALDEEN AND TWO OTHERS, by supreme court. SC FR 559/03

The petitioner and 3 others were transporting household furniture in their lorry, from Colombo to Katuwana. As they reached Habarana at night, he decided to spend the night at Habarana and parked the lorry on the side of the road. The petitioner had a permit to transport obtained under the Forest Ordinance, although a permit was not necessary The petitioner claims that he obtained same out of an abundance of caution valid from 1 p.m. on 18.9.03 to 12 noon 19.9.03. Later in the night the 1st respondent came up…

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SIRIPALA v SUB INSPECTOR WIJESINGHE AND OTHERS FR 213/2001

The petitioner in his affidavit states that he is fifty-five years old and a father of four children. Due to indigent circumstances he was dealing in illicit liquor but gave up that trade three to four months prior to the incident complained of. According to him at the time of the alleged incident he had started working as a casual labourer. The petitioner further states that on 07.03.2001, at around 7 pm he went to the edge of the forest situated behind his house, to relieve himself. When he was…

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WICKREMASINGIfE c . v – CEYLON PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND OTHERS |2001 2SLR 409

The petitioner had been a dealer in petroleum products from 1949 at premises No. 267 Galle Road, Colombo 4 when the said premises were with the British owned Shell Company until the same vested with the 1 * respondent Corporation in 1964 under the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Act after which the business was continued on an Agreement with the Corporation. The Agreement of Dealership could be terminated either without notice on the ground of defaults on the part o f the dealer or by either party giving 3 months notice…

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SRIYANI SILVA (WIFE OF JAGATH KUMARA-DECEASED) v. IDDAMALGODA, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, POLICE STATION, PAYAGALA AND OTHERS SC APPLICATION No. 471/2000

On 12.6.2000 the deceased was arrested and kept in custody at the Payagala Police Station where he remained in custody until he was produced before the Magistrate on 17.06.2000 when he was remanded to prison. On 20.6.2000 the detenue died at the Remand Prison. There is prima facie evidence including medical evidence to the effect that the deceased was assaulted whilst in police custody and his death resulted by reason of such assault. A petition was filed on 18.7.2000 on behalf of the petitioner (the deceased detenue). On 23.8.2000 on…

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PRIYANTHA DIAS v. EKANAYAKE, RESERVE POLICE CONSTABLE. POLICE STATION, POLPITHIGAMA AND OTHERS SC (APPLICATION) NO. 860/99

The petitioner who is from Homagama was a teacher attached to the Kattamberiya Yaya Vidyalaya, Makulpotha. He was accompanied by the Principal of the school and was on the way to board a bus. At that stage the1st and 2nd respondent Reserve Police Constables came on a motor cycle and questioned the petitioner, including on his place of birth. When the petitioner replied that it was Batdcaloa they said that he must be a tiger and assaulted him despite the intervention of the Principal. They forcibly took the petitioner on…

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ANURA BANDARANAIKE v. W. B. RAJAGURU, INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE AND OTHERS | 19991SLR 93

On 12. 02. 1997 at about 2.15 am the 2nd respondent Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Criminal Investigation and the 3rd respondent Deputy Director, Criminal Investigation entered the petitioner’s residence without a warrant or the petitioner’s permission purporting to act under sections 24 and 25 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act on the basis that they had “reason to believe” that a murder suspect – one Punchi Nilame had entered the premises. Those respondents stated that they acted on the instructions of the 1st respondent Inspector-General of Police who had…

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