SRI LANKA: Brutal torture by the police puts the victim in critical condition 

Dear friends

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information on another serious torture case in Sri Lanka. According to information we have received, an innocent man was brutally tortured by the police personnel attached to the Bentota Police Station including its Officer In Charge (OIC) and a Sub Inspector (SI). In particular, the way of torturing the victim was so cruel that the victim is currently in critical condition. Your urgent action is required to stop the custom of illegal arrest and torture by the police which has been practiced for a long time in Sri Lanka.

Urgent Appeals Desk

Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

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DETAILED INFORMATON:

Brutal torture by the police puts the victim in critical condition

– Name of the victim: Dope Pathiranyalayage Lasantha Priyankara, 33, daily paid laborer and a married man with two children (aged 2 years and 6months)
– Alleged perpetrators: Officer in Charge, Sub Inspector (SI) Mr. Silva and two other personel attached to the Bentota Police Station
– Date of arbitrary arrest and torture: 22 October 2003

Dope Pathiranyalayage Lasantha Priyankara was brutally tortured by the Officer in Charge (OIC), the Sub Inspector (SI) Mr. Silva and two other personnel attached to the Bentota Police Station and he is currently in critical condition.

At about 1:30pm on 22 October 2003, Dope Pathiranyalayage Lasantha Priyankara went to the Bentota Police Station to inquire as to why some policemen had come. When he asked the OIC why he was wanted, OIC, SI Mr. Silva and the other two policemen directed him to a back room of the police station, without giving any explanation. At that time, all of the perpetrators were in civilian clothes.

As soon as they entered the room, all of them started to assault him with a cricket bat, wooden clubs and rubber hose. While they assaulted him, they kept asking the victim whether he had broken a house and stolen some goods. When the victim refused to accept the charges against him, the OIC and others stripped him, tided his thumbs together and hung him up by his thumbs. While he was in that position all four policemen assaulted him again with clubs, a rubber hose and a cricket bat, telling him to admit that he had broken a house.

He repeatedly stated his innocence, even in that position, and then the OIC and the others brought him down, untied him and threatened to kill him. The OIC pressed his trousers and T-shirt to the victim’s face until he was nearly suffocated. When they failed to get a confession, they twisted his arms behind his back, tided his thumbs together and hung him up again. They again started assaulting him. SI Silva took a broken bottle and started to stab the victim’s belly. They continued assaulting him until he went unconscious.

After that he was taken to a rural hospital several kilometers away from Bentota passing Bentota Government Hospital. He was administered a saline injection and brought back to the police station. Then the OIC told him to go back home. The victim told them that he could not even move and showed them blood still coming from his stab wounds.

Then they took him to the Bentota Government Hospital. While he was in the police vehicle, the OIC went inside and spoke with the District Medical Officer (DMO). After some time, the OIC brought some medicine and gave it to the victim. Then, the police told him to get out of the vehicle and go home. He went back home with great difficulty, and his family then rushed him to the General Hospital Kalutara. He was admitted to the hospital and warded in 5B ward. His situation remains very critical.

SUGGESTED ACTION

Please send a letter, fax or email to the addresses below and express your concern of this serious case.

1. Hon. Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe
Prime Minister
Cambridge Place, Colombo 7
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 1 2 682905
E-mail: secpm@sltnet.lk or bradmanw@slt.lk

2. Hon. Mr. K. C. Kamalasabesan
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 1 2 436 421
Email: attorney@sri.lanka.net or counsel@sri.lanka.net

3. Mr. Ranjith Abeysuriya PC
Chairman National Police Commission
69-1 Ward Place, Colombo 7
Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 1 2 691 926
Fax HOME: +941 2 674148

4. National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
No. 36, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 1 2 694 925 / 673 806
Fax: +94 1 2 694 924
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk

5. Mr. Theo C. van Boven
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917-9016

 

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