SRI LANKA: Widespread practice of torture; the case of arbitrary arrest, detention and missing
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– Name of the Victim: KORALAGAMAGE Sujith Dharmasiri (23), unmarried and deserted the army on grounds of serious health problems.
– Address of the Victim: Godaparagaha, Palathota road, Kaluthara south.
– Responsible Police Station: Crime section of the Kaluthara south police station.
CASE DETAILS
KORALAGAMAGE Sujith Dharmasiri was arrested on Jan. 1, 2003 by the police inspector, Pragathi Lakmina ABEYSINGHE and several other police officers attached to the crime section of the Kaluthara south police station, while he was attending a funeral. He was kept illegally in police custody for a week until Jan. 8.
A number of people submitted a petition to the D.I.G. of Kaluthara south on Jan. 7, protesting over the illegal arrest and detention, but no action has yet been taken.
The family was not allowed to see him till Jan. 7. His mother who went daily from Jan. 2, was allowed to see him only on that day (Jan. 7). At every visit, his mother was also abused with filthy language by the police officers and was chased away.
A complaint was made to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). However, so far no effective intervention has been made. The mother was threatened by a police officer on the Jan. 8, saying that \”try if you can, to get him out by complaining to the NHRC. We will see that he will not get the bail.\” Then the mother was once again chased away.
More seriously, today (Jan. 9), he was found missing from the police station. The family is looking for his whereabouts desperately.
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) requests you to send urgent appeal that may lead to discover and perhaps save his life.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Please send your urgent appeals to the Prime Minister, Chairman of the National Police Commission of Sri Lanka, Attorney General, Inspector General of Police (IGP), expressing your extreme concern about his safety and urging them to take urgent intervention.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear,
Re: The case of illegal detention, torture and missing at the KALUTHARA police station
I am writing this to bring the following matter to your notice.
KORALAGAMAGE Sujith Dharmasiri (23) was arrested on Jan. 1, 2003 by the police inspector, Pragathi Lakmina ABEYSINGHE and several other police officers attached to the crime section of the Kaluthara south police station, while he was attending a funeral. He was kept illegally in police custody for a week until Jan. 8.
A number of people submitted a petition to the D.I.G. of Kaluthara south on Jan. 7, protesting over the illegal arrest and detention, but no action has yet been taken.
The family was not allowed to see him till Jan. 7. His mother who went daily from Jan. 2, was allowed to see him only on that day (Jan. 7). At every visit, his mother was also abused with filthy language by the police officers and was chased away.
A complaint was made to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). However, so far no effective intervention has been made. The mother was threatened by a police officer on the Jan. 8, saying that \"try if you can, to get him out by complaining to the NHRC. We will see that he will not get the bail.\" Then the mother was once again chased away.
More seriously, today (Jan. 9), he is not found at the police station. The family is fearful of his life and desperately seeking information on his whereabouts.
I urge you to take urgent intervention into this matter to guarantee his safety and immediate release of him. Also I urge you to take legal and disciplinary action to the perpetrators under the Act No. 22 of 1994 and the provisions.
Thank you for your attention on this urgent matter.
Sincerely yours,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Honorable Prime Minister
Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe
Cambridge Place
Colombo 7
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 1 682905
Email: secpm@sltnet.lk or bradmanw@slt.lk
SALUTATION: Hon. Prime Minister
2. Mr. Ranjith Abeysuriya PC
Chairman
National Police Commission
10 A, Flower Road
Colombo 7
SRI LANKA
SALUTATION: Dear Commissioner
3. Hon. Mr. K.C. Kamalasabesan
Attorney General
Attorney - General's Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 1 436 421
Email: attorney@sri.lanka.net | or | counsel@sri.lanka.net
SALUTATION: Dear Attorney General
4. Mr. T. E. Anandrajah
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
New Secretariat
Colombo 1,
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 1 446174
SALUTATION: Dear Inspector General of Police
