Tag: torture

Forensic evidence of torture found on murdered Tamil youth

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A second autopsy on a Tamil youth from Batticaloa who was “beaten to death” Sri Lankan police, has reportedly revealed signs of torture according to lawyers for the murdered man’s family. 22-year old Chandran Vithusan was tied to a tree and assaulted in front of his family members by Sri Lankan police officers, before being taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on June 3rd. He was pronounced dead the following morning. Tamil lawyer Sugas Kanagaratnam and Vithusan’s family had demanded a second autopsy, after an initial autopsy…

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The Complaint by a young mother of sexual harassment suffered at the Padukka Police Station.

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A woman raise her voice against police sexual abuse suffered at the Padukka Police station. She appeals to the President and the IGP for seeking justice. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has also sent an open letter to the IGP that urging to urgently intervene by, (a) Ensuring her protection (b) Conducting an urgent inquiry (c) Ensure Arrest and criminal action against the accused. Following is a translation of the transcript of her message. (The translation from Sinhala to English by Asian Human Rights Commission) My husband, my two…

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Sri Lanka police did not allow me to visit the harassed journalist – lawyer Namal Rajapapakse

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Journalist Sujeewa Gamage

Human rights lawyer Namal Rajapaksa accused the Colombo Crime Division of Sri Lanka Police had further harassed an alleged torture victim because a lawyer had tried to help him. The relevant torture victim who was treated in Colombo national hospital from March 10 to 17 was a journalist called Sujeewa Gamage. The journalist claimed that he had been abducted at Meerigama and tortured by an unknown gang of four persons he suspected of being the defence personnel. He claimed that he was dropped near the Muslim cemetery in Dematagoda later.…

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Abduction and demands for ransom by some officers of Kuda oya Police Station

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Two young men named Wicramage Shanaka Chathuranga and Wicramage Eishan Chintaka Lakamal both from Ambilipitiye were abducted under suspicion of the theft of four buffaloes. At the police station, they were severely tortured. According to the family, the family members were denied access to the suspects and the police denied having abducted or taken them into custody. Later, on information received by the family, they inquired from the Kuda oya Police and heard the both suspects shouting “Buddhu sir please do not torture us”. Then, one of the officers according to…

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Urging the Sri Lankan authorities to support the Supreme Court’s Direction to educate Law- Enforcement System personnel, on the law elimination of and the use of torture

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The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is bringing to your notice the Supreme Court’s Direction to educate Law- Enforcement System personnel, on the law elimination of and the use of torture. CASE NARRATIVE: In delivering the Judgement on a Fundamental Rights Violation case, under Article 126 of the Constitution, the Court found the respondent Police Officers had violated the rights of the petitioner, guaranteed under Article 11 (the right against torture). They also had violated his rights against illegal arrest and detention. In their Judgement, the three-bench Court issued this…

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What Is The Value Of The Life Of Sunil Jayawardene?

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Sunil Jayawardene was a representative for three-wheele drivers. He who went to make a representation to a finance company on behalf of one of the vehicle owners, whose three-wheeler had been taken by agents of that company. Sunil was assaulted by eight or more people in front of the company and murdered. This story is quite well known and being talked about in the country at the moment. The whole amount related to the dispute in this incident is about Rs 35,000. Due to the situation of the coronavirus and…

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SHORT ANALYSIS ON SENTENCING POLICIES ON TORTURE 2019

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The research provides a short-analysis of sentencing policies on Torture in Sri Lanka, specifically the violation of Article 11 of the constitution of Sri Lanka. In the process of analyzing cases from 1981- 2019 we have collected and analyzed 100 judgements from the Supreme Court only. We have included Article 12(1), 13(1) and 13(2), as most often these articles were considered by the Petitioner when filing for breach of Article 11. The judges evaluated each of the 100 cases subjectively on a case by case basis based on the evidence…

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Sri Lanka: 25 Years with Act against Torture 2019

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The Act of the Convention against Torturing and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatments or punishments was passed in the parliament in 1994 as it was needed to impose provisions for implementing the commitment of Sri Lanka under this International Convention. It was passed in the parliament in 25th November 1994 and is apropos since 20th December 1994. This research is about Act of the Convention against Torturing and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatments or punishments  done by organization of Right to Life  Human Rights Center. this is written…

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