(Hong Kong, November 15, 2012) The Asian Human Rights Commission is reproducing below a copy of the letter written by the parents of a young girl who died of burn injuries to the Attorney General of Sri Lanka. In the letter the parents give details of the incident which led to the unfortunate girl’s death and ask the AG to reopen the case in order that justice might be done.
October 31, 2012
Puladurayalage Sriyani Ramyalatha
No. 63 Neelabamma Viyaparaya,
Saliya Wewa Junction
Mr. Palitha Fernando
Hon. Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
Dear Mr. Fernando,
RE: Request for impartial inquiry and prosecution for the killing of a woman by burning
On 13 December 2011, Ms. Muddara Pedilage Suneetha Sandamali (16) of No: 03, Neelabamma Viyaparaya, Saliya Wewa Junction in Anuradhapura District (herein after referred to as the Deceased) succumbed to her severe burn injuries at the Puttalam Base Hospital.
She has been admitted to the hospital with severe burn injuries by a soldier attached to the Civil Defence Force, Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga (25) (Thusitha) who lived with the Deceased as her partner.
The Deceased was alone with Thusitha at their home at the time when the incident happened which was 7 AM on 4 December 2011. She suffered severe burn injuries which led to her death.
Following the information that was submitted to Honourable Attorney General by the Saliya Wewa Police Station. Mr. Palitha Fernando, who was at that time the Solicitor General, instructed the Magistrate of Puttalam to release the suspect Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga on 6 June 2012. He was released the same day.
Considering the following information we ask you to deliver justice to the Deceased and her family members.
1. Following the incident of burning the Deceased should have been admitted to the hospital urgently but her partner, Thusitha, did not do so for six hours and instead kept her at their home.
2. During the six hour period in which Thusitha kept the deceased at their home he closed the curtains and windows in order to conceal the incident from the Deceased’s parents whose house was within sight of their home.
3. When the Deceased started screaming in pain Thusitha went to a doctor at the Sarvodaya Bank Building who gave him some pain killers which Thusitha then administered to the Deceased.
4. Thusitha then went to a pharmacy that was owned by Mr. Vennappuwa and bought some ointments which he then used to cover the burn wounds.
5. Thusitha then took the Deceased to his sister’s home by using a back road which ensured that the Deceased parents would not see them leave.
6. At 1 PM Thusitha then took the Deceased to the Puttalam Base Hospital by a three-wheeler owned by Mr. Raju.
On arrival at the hospital the Deceased initially stated that her clothing suddenly and inexplicably burst into flames. If this were true then we have to consider the following:
7. When giving her second statement she revealed that she was threatened with death by Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga if she revealed that he had set her on fire. When she pleaded with Thusitha to take her to hospital he promised to do so only if she agreed to state that her clothing suddenly and inexplicably burst into flames.
8. During the period between 4 to 13 December, 2011 when she was visited by family and friends she revealed to them that Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga had set her on fire. When the police recorded her second statement she repeated this same explanation.
9. Following this police officers attached to the Saliya Wewa Police Station took a further statement from the Deceased. On that occasion the officers ordered the mother and sister to leave the ward. The police then suspiciously and arbitrarily remained in the ward for a period of three hours against the doctor’s advice.
10. The following facts reveal that Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga had reason to kill the Deceased
i. When the Deceased was below 15 years-of-age she was abducted and raped by Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga. At that time he was arrested and remanded and a case was filed before the Magistrate of Puttalam under Case No. BR 231/11. This case was postponed to 19 February, 2013 where he stands accused of statutory rape.
ii. When Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga was enlarged on bail from the case he again brought the under-aged Deceased to his home and continuously abused her.
iii. During that time he continuously tortured her physically and mentally. He also forced her to take money from her parents with threats of violence. The Deceased then made a written complaint to the Saliya Wewa Police Station.
iv. During this same period Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga pawned all the jewellery owned by the Deceased.
v. While Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga was accused of rape in the Magistrate’s Court of Puttalam he was still permitted to work in the Civil Defence Force.
vi. Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga was also attached to the Saliya Wewa Police Station.
vii. Upon the death of Ms. Muddara Pedilage Suneetha Sandamali the Saliya Wewa Police Station reported to the Magistrate’s Court of Puttalam under case No. BR/1740/11/P. In that report the police mentioned Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga as being responsible for the death. However, when later the police proceeded with the case in the court they ignored this fact.
viii. The Honourable Magistrate attended the scene of the crime but by that time Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga had cleaned and removed all evidence of the crime. Despite the fact that it was their duty the police did not record this.
ix. When Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga made his statement to the police he falsely gave the age of the Deceased as 18. He further stated that at the time of 7:30 AM on the day of the incident the Deceased, who was wearing a long dress, suddenly and inexplicably burst into flames. In the police report they intentionally did not give the actual time when Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga took the Deceased to the hospital.
x. When the Deceased was attending the Saliya Wewa Adarsha Vidyalaya School at the time when she was still below the age of 15 years and studying in Grade 10 she took her younger sister to the school for a training session. On that occasion Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga tried to talk to the Deceased. The school principal informed the Saliya Wewa Police Station. At that time Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga was attached to the same police station.
xi. Shortly following this incident Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga abducted the Deceased and raped her.
Considering the above matters it is very clear that Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga intentionally caused the death of Ms. Muddara Pedilage Suneetha Sandamali at 7 AM on 4 December 2011.
Further considering the above it is unclear as to whether the Saliya Wewa Police Station revealed all these facts to the Attorney General’s Department.
We therefore plead to the Honourable Attorney General to start an impartial, independent and efficient investigation into the death of Ms. Muddara Pedilage Suneetha Sandamali and prosecute the person responsible for the killing, Wijesundara Pedige Thusitha Priyaranga.
Yours sincerely,
The Parents of Ms. Muddara Pedilage Suneetha Sandamali (Deceased)
cc: Mr. N K Illangakoon
Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters
Colombo 01
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