first seriously injuring two of the family members, leaving permanent injuries on one and thereafter fabricating charges against the victims themselves by filing a case, 73456 MC, at the Teldeniya. Magistrate’s Court: the cases of Rohitha Upali Liyanage and Sarath Bandara Ekanayake
As the Deputy Inspector General of Police in Kandy you are completely aware of this case. You personally investigated this matter and your investigation was later followed by a Special Investigation Unit (SIU) inquiry. The Human Rights Commission of Kandy also investigated and found that the allegations of torture are true.
Adding to the cruelty of the torture is the fabrication of charges against the victims by the police officers who were the perpetrators of torture and who are the complainants. In a complete reversal of justice the perpetrators have become complainants and the victims of crime have become the accused.
We believe that you, as the highest ranking police officer for Kandy, bear the responsibility to reverse this mockery of justice and the double cruelty perpetrated on the two victims and their families. The purpose of a policing system is not to ruin the lives of innocent people and to protect criminals, and when such criminals act as law enforcement officers there can no possibility of anything but injustice.
Now this Magistrate’s Court case is being used by these police officers to create some form of defence in terms of the investigation of the torture that has taken place.
We urge you to act on the basis of the information you, yourself have and to take action to ensure the withdrawal of the case at the Magistrate’s Court and to use your office as the highest ranking police officer in Kandy to assist these torture victims to find justice so that their families may live in peace, free from being tormented by such cruelty.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
John Sloan
Programme Officer Interventions
