SRI LANKA: Assault of two men in separate incidents by policemen from Wellawaya and Badureliya police stations 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that two men were injured, one of whom was hospitalised, after several policemen from the Wellawaya and Badureliya police stations assaulted them in separate incidents. Victim Ranshadhi Pethiyalage Jayasinghe (40) was illegally arrested, detained and tortured by the policemen from Wellawaya on 24 July 2005 while Kadinappulige Ajith Suranga (40) was severely beaten by policemen from Badureliya on July 30.

The attack on Jayasinghe took place after he complained of the Wellawaya police station’s inaction and failure to take action against their fellow policemen involved in a July 3 assault on him. He was illegally arrested, detained and tortured for making such complaints. After Jayasinghe’s arrest, the police brought him before the Magistrate court. But the Magistrate court ordered for his release because there was no charged filed against him. This practice of harassing and intimidating victims of torture is common in Sri Lanka every time victims lodged complaints against the police.

Meanwhile, police officials from the Badureliya are reportedly trying to cover up the case of Suranga by concealing information implicating his men in the assault of Suranga. Even though Suranga’s mother has reported the incident to the Assistant Superintendent of the Police (ASP) Matugama, the complaint has shown no progress.

We urge for your immediate intervention in this case. Please pressure the Sri Lankan government, in particular the National Police Commission (NPC), to place those policemen at the Wellawaya and Badureliya police under investigation. Once an independent inquiry is conducted, and if allegations are proven true, charges must be filed as stipulated in the Convention Against Torture (CAT) Act of 1994 of Sri Lanka.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

CASE NO. 1
Name of the victim:
Ranshadhi Pethiyalage Jayasinghe (40), married with three children, and living in Nikadalupotha, Kurunegala. He is a farmer.
Date of the incident: 24 July 2005
Alleged perpetrators: Policemen from Wellawaya police station

Two men, namely Ranshadhi Pethiyalage Jayasinghe (40) and Kadinappulige Ajith Suranga (24), were injured after they were assaulted by policemen from the Wellawaya and Badureliya police stations, in separate incidents on July 24 and July 30, 2005.

On July 24, at about 12 midnight, approximately four policemen from the Wellawaya police arrived at the house of Ranshadhi Pethiyalage Jayasinghe. One of them was in uniform whilst the others were in civil clothes.  Two of the policemen hit and forced the door open as they shouted Jayasinghe’s name. They said they had a warrant for his arrest. But when the victim’s wife questioned the warrant of arrest, the said policemen instead scolded her in foul language.

The wife tried to explain that they had not been informed of any warrant issued for her husband’s arrest. But the policemen continued on shouting foul language at her. Later, two policemen who earlier entered the house instructed their fellow policemen outside to bring the jeep close to the house.  There were four policemen onboard. Jayasinghe was dumped into the police jeep.

The policemen then proceeded to several other places carrying the victim with them. It was not until around 6:00am the next day before they arrived at the Wellawaya police station and placed the victim in the detention cell. At about 9:00 am they took him to meet the Officer in Charge (OIC). The OIC asked him: “you have complained against us for not recording your statement at hospital haven’t you?”

About 11:30 am, Jayasinghe was taken to the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court where the lawyer appearing on his behalf informed the court that there is no warrant against his client even though the police insisted that there was. The Magistrate ordered for Jayasinghe’s release and fixed the case B 23496 for 5 December 2005.

Prior to the incident, Jayasinghe said that on July 3 he was assaulted by several Police Constables (PC) at the Wellawaya police stations, one of whom was PC Jinendra. When he asked to register his complaint for the assault on him, they at first refused to accept his complaint, but later agreed to.  Nevertheless, he filed a complaint that the police failed to take any action on his case. The victim strongly believes that he was arrested, illegally detained and produced in court in retaliation for his complaint against the police.

CASE 2:
Name of the victim:
Kadinappulige Ajith Suranga (24), married with one child and living in KelinKanda, Agalawatte. He is a member of the the Pioneer Corp, Sri Lanka Army
Date of the incident: 30 July 2005
Alleged perpetrators: Policemen from Badureliya police station

On July 30, Kadinappulige Ajith Suranga was participating in a musical show held at the Moraketiya Town together with his relatives and friends. Whilst participating in the event, several policemen of the Badureliya police severely assaulted him. According to his mother, R.H. Suneetha, one policeman hit him on the face, causing serious injuries.

As a consequence he was continuous to be hospitalised at the Badureliya Hospital. The mother also opined that there is now a serious attempt being made to conceal this case, particularly by the OIC of the Badureliya Station.  Accordingly on 2 August 2005 the mother complained about the victim’s torture to the ASP, Matugama.

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