Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding Mr. Nihal Ajith Peiris of Helen Wawatha, in Wennappuwa Police Division in Puttalam District. On 25 June 2017 at 5:45 a.m. Nihal was abducted by an unidentified group of persons. His whereabouts are still unknown. His wife lodged a written complaint with the Wennappuwa Police Station. She requested a prompt and efficient investigation to find her husband and protect him. Presently the family members are in fear for his life. They are demanding that the Police make every effort to bring him back alive.
Case Narrative:
According to information the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received, Mr. Nihal Ajith Peiris of Helen Wawatha, Wennappuwa in Puttalam District was abducted by an unknown group of 5-6 men. Nihal is married to Jasintha Kumudini Perera. They have two children, a twenty four-year son and a fifteen-year daughter. Nihal is a professional businessman.
Jasintha, the wife, made a complaint to the Wennappuwa Police Station on 26 June 2017. She said that her husband was abducted and requested the police to promptly investigate the case and protect her husband’s life. According to Jasintha, on 25 June at 5:45 a.m., as her family slept, she heard loud knocking at the front door and unfamiliar voices. She opened the door. Suddenly, 5 to 6 men barged into the house and forcefully dragged her husband out. They put him in a vehicle parked on the road outside the house and drove away quickly. Jasintha could not identify any of the abductors as their faces were covered with balaclavas and their bodies with non–descript clothing.
While dragging Nihal out of the house the abductors began beating him. Nihal screamed and pleaded with them not to assault him and cut his life short. He addressed one abductor saying “‘Gune’ please do not kill me”. Jasintha understood that her husband knew one of the abductors by name. But she never knew anyone called Gune, neither as a person known to her husband or in any other way.
On 26 June, Jasintha’s phone rang and she immediately picked it up. The caller asked her husband to speak to her. Nihal urged Jasintha to hand over Rs. 5 million to the abductors following their directions. Jasintha told them that she does not have such a large amount of money in the house to pay them immediately. She pleaded with them not to kill her husband. She assured them that she can raise at least a part of the money demanded. But the callers were not satisfied with this answer and threatened to kill him if they did not pay in full.
At the time of abduction, Nihal’s wife and son were in the house. But, they did not want to lodge a complaint at the Police Station that time. They thought it would harm his chances of release. By noon of 26 June, as Jasintha still had no news from the Police she decided to ask for their help to locate her husband.
When she asked about the progress of the investigation, the police informed her that they had recorded statements from several persons. They also traced the last telephone calls her husband received before he was kidnapped. They are presently tracing the calls she received after her husband was captured. Police have informed the Colombo Crime Division about the developments in the investigation and requested their assistance in the case. In the end, she did not get any hopeful or positive response from the police.
Jasintha is urgently appealing to the responsible Authorities to take all possible steps to search for where her husband might be being held. She fears an imminent threat to her husband’s life.
Three days after the incident, on 28 June, she re-visited the Wennappuwa Police Station and re-requested what she had previously asked of the Officer-in-Charge (OIC)–save my husband’s life. The officer told her that they have done everything possible under the circumstances. If she knows of anyone who may have additional information, bring them to the Police Station. Jasintha feels that the police have not given enough attention and time to her husband’s predicament. She understands the powers of the IGP. He can call the Director of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to guide his officers to initiate an independent, professional, prompt and efficient investigation into her husband’s abduction. And grant relief to her family. The question is, will he do it?
Suggested Action:
Please send letters to the Authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case. Request an immediate investigation into the allegations of abduction of a businessman by an unknown group of 5 to 6 men. The police as the law enforcement agency responsible to maintain law and order in the country must investigate this crime and protect the lives and property of its citizens. Those officers who fail to execute their duties must be subject to an internal investigation for breach of Police Departmental Orders. Request the National Police Commission and the Inspector General of Police to open a special investigation into the malpractice of police officers who abuse their powers.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ________,
SRI LANKA: Businessman abducted and family demands a speedy investigation to save his life
Name of Victim: Mr. Nihal Ajith Peiris of Helen Wawatha, Wennappuwa in Puttalam District
Alleged perpetrators: Group of 5 to 6 unknown abductors
Date of incident: 25 June 2017
Place of incidents:
1) the home of Mr. Peiris
2) the Wennappuwa Police Division
According to the information I have received , Mr. Nihal Ajith Peiris of Helen Wawatha, Wennappuwa in Puttalam District was abducted by an unknown group of 5-6 men. Nihal is married to Jasintha Kumudini Perera. They have two children, a twenty four-year son and a fifteen-year daughter. Nihal is a professional businessman.
Jasintha, the wife, made a complaint to the Wennappuwa Police Station on 26 June 2017. She said that her husband was abducted and requested the police to promptly investigate the case and protect her husband’s life. According to Jasintha, on 25 June at 5:45 a.m., as her family slept, she heard loud knocking at the front door and unfamiliar voices. She opened the door. Suddenly, 5 to 6 men barged into the house and forcefully dragged her husband out. They put him in a vehicle parked on the road outside the house and drove away quickly. Jasintha could not identify any of the abductors as their faces were covered with balaclavas and their bodies with non–descript clothing.
While dragging Nihal out of the house the abductors began beating him. Nihal screamed and pleaded with them not to assault him and cut his life short. He addressed one abductor saying “‘Gune’ please do not kill me”. Jasintha understood that her husband knew one of the abductors by name. But she never knew anyone called Gune, neither as a person known to her husband or in any other way.
On 26 June, Jasintha’s phone rang and she immediately picked it up. The caller asked her husband to speak to her. Nihal urged Jasintha to hand over Rs. 5 million to the abductors following their directions. Jasintha told them that she does not have such a large amount of money in the house to pay them immediately. She pleaded with them not to kill her husband. She assured them that she can raise at least a part of the money demanded. But the callers were not satisfied with this answer and threatened to kill him if they did not pay in full.
At the time of abduction, Nihal’s wife and son were in the house. But, they did not want to lodge a complaint at the Police Station that time. They thought it would harm his chances of release. By noon of 26 June, as Jasintha still had no news from the Police she decided to ask for their help to locate her husband.
When she asked about the progress of the investigation, the police informed her that they had recorded statements from several persons. They also traced the last telephone calls her husband received before he was kidnapped. They are presently tracing the calls she received after her husband was captured. Police have informed the Colombo Crime Division about the developments in the investigation and requested their assistance in the case. In the end, she did not get any hopeful or positive response from the police.
Jasintha is urgently appealing to the responsible Authorities to take all possible steps to search for where her husband might be being held. She fears an imminent threat to her husband’s life.
Three days after the incident, on 28 June, she re-visited the Wennappuwa Police Station and re-requested what she had previously asked of the Officer-in-Charge (OIC)–save my husband’s life. The officer told her that they have done everything possible under the circumstances. If she knows of anyone who may have additional information, bring them to the Police Station. Jasintha feels that the police have not given enough attention and time to her husband’s predicament. She understands the powers of the IGP. He can call the Director of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to guide his officers to initiate an independent, professional, prompt and efficient investigation into her husband’s abduction. And grant relief to her family. The question is, will he do it?
I request the intervention of your good offices. Please ensure that the authorities listed below open an immediate investigation into the Sri Lanka Police Department—Wennappuwa Police Division. Examine allegations of their indolent approach to the abduction of a businessman. The officers involved should also be subject to an internal investigation for breach of Police Departmental orders.
Yours sincerely,
———————
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Pujith Jayasundara
Inspector General of Police
New Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440 / 327877
E-mail: igp@police.lk
2. Mr. Jayantha Jayasooriya PC
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436421
E-mail: ag@attorneygeneral.gov.lk
3. Secretary
National Police Commission
3rd Floor, Rotunda Towers
109 Galle Road
Colombo 03
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 395310
Fax: +94 11 2 395867
E-mail: npcgen@sltnet.lk or polcom@sltnet.lk
4. Secretary
Human Rights Commission
No. 36, Kynsey Road
Colombo 8
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806
Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 / 696 470
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
