SRI LANKA: Alleged ill treatment against a couple by Ahangama police

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the ill treatment of a couple by the Ahangama police on 26 September 2007. When the wife of the couple asked a question, a police officer conducting an inquiry allegedly assaulted and humiliated her. She was later charged with obstruction of police duties and released on bail. The couple has submitted complaints to various government authorities and they are frustrated that nothing has happened in this matter.

CASE DETAILS: (based on the testimony of Ranasinghe Arachchilage Vimalawathi (37) and her husband Don Chandrasiri Wickramasuriya)

Vimalawathi and her husband Chandrasiri went to the Ahangama Police Station at 10am on 29 August 2007 after they had received an order to come for an inquiry into a dispute regarding a fence with another person. In the station, they met Police Constable (PC) Chameera who informed them to wait for a while because the party who had lodged the complaint had not arrived. The couple waited until 1pm, and where then told by the same PC to go home. On August 30, an officer from the same police station came to the couple’s home and left a note asking them to come to the station on September 26.

The couple went to the police station on the given date and saw the person with whom they had a dispute talking with PC Chameera. Then, the officer brought the two parties together and asked what the complaint was. The person then started to scold Vimalawathi and humiliate her in foul language in front of the officer. Meanwhile, Vimalawathi asked the officer, “Sir, What the complaint is; we are not here to get or give character certificates; please tell us what the complaint is.” However, hearing this question, the person slapped Vimalawathi on her cheek. In addition, the PC Chameera stood up and also scolded her soundly using foul language and accused her of slapping the person. He further allegedly slapped her several times on her cheek and kicked her in her stomach.

Then, Chameera caught her by her hair and dragged her to the room of the Officer-in-Charge (OIC). In the room, the officer called the person also. He told the OIC that Vimalawathi had assaulted the person and continued to scold her in foul language in front of the OIC. When the OIC saw Chandrasiri, he scolded him saying that he did not know how to bring up his wife and attempted to assault him. The OIC then threatened Vimalawathi that if she was not a woman they would ‘do her good’ and then, asked the PC to put her into the police cell.

Vimalawathi was put into the cell after two male inmates were removed. The two who were taken out of the cell were told to sit on a bench nearby. A little while later, a woman police officer named Niranjala took Vimalawathi from the cell and recorded her statement but Vimalawathi was neither allowed to see what was written nor was it explained to her. Vimalawathi said that her ear and cheeks were swollen at that time due to the assault and they were painful. Then, Vimalawathi was told to sit on a chair while the person and other inmates were put back into the police cell. The person was also later put into the cell.

Later on the same day, both Vimalawathi and the person were produced before the Magistrate in Galle and sent to a prison. Vimalawathi got to know later that she was charged with obstructing of police duties. Vimalawathi informed the prison officers of police assault, a prison officer took down her statement regarding the incident on next day.

After Vimalawathi was released on bail from the Magistrate Court Galle on September 28, she went with her husband to meet the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Galle and told him this injustice perpetrated on them. The ASP took down their statement and told them that legal action would be taken against PC Chameera attached to the Ahangama Police Station.

Later the couple went to the Human Rights Commission brand office in Matara to report this matter. However, an officer refused to accept the complaint stating, “it is strange that they (the police) had only put one case against you. The police can even break a chair and say that you broke it.” The officer further said, “in this instance, the police have the right to hit you.”

After this another incident, Vimalawathi made a written complaint to the Human Rights Commission, National Police Commission, Attorney General and other various authorities. To date, no substantive action has been taken about their complaint. Meanwhile, the Police Constable Chameera is reportedly still serving in the police station.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the relevant authorities urging them to investigate this incident without delay and take due disciplinary and legal action against the responsible if found guilty.

Please be informed that the AHRC has also written separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture and Violence against Women calling for their intervention in this case.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER