SRI LANKA: Rape of 14-year-old girl in Galagedara 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about the rape of a 14-year-old girl in Galagedara, Sri Lanka on 29 July 2005. After the girl’s father reported the incident to the police, the alleged perpetrator was arrested but later released on bail. The victim is now unable to either go home or to school after the perpetrator’s relatives spread ruthless rumors of the girl being a prostitute. Her family fears that the police will not take the case seriously. Meanwhile, according to her class teacher and other teachers, the victim will be dismissed from the school soon. The girl will now also be denied her right to education.

Please write a letter to the Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority and other relevant authorities demanding a full inquiry into this incident, as well as appropriate assistance and protection for the victim. She should be provided a place at another school so that she can continue her education.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
———————————————————————————-

DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victim: Ms. X (name withheld), 14-years-old, ninth grade student at the Hemamali B.M.V
Address of the victim: Delkandehena kade, Kaluwana, Uduwa, Galagedara, Sri Lanka
Alleged perpetrator: Susantha Bandara (21), three wheeler driver from Anuradhapura, currently lives with his uncle in Uduwa, Galagedara, Sri Lanka
Date of the incident: 29 July 2005
The case reported at: Galagedara Police Station

Details of the incident (Based on the account of the victim):

Fourteen-year-old Ms. X (name withheld) is an intelligent student who was given scholarship and admitted to the Hemamali Balika Vidiyalaya, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Since then, she has traveled daily from Galagedara, where her house is located, to Kandy to go to school. A young man named Susantha Bandara (21) followed her and made several efforts to get friendly with her. The young girl was reluctant to talk with him at first, but she became friendly with him; Susantha was thus able to get her personal details.

At about 3:45am on 29 July 2005, Susantha entered the compound of the victim’s house, called out to her outside her room window and had her to open the door. After entering her room, Susantha allegedly raped the victim. At that time, all the other family members were sleeping. The victim’s brother saw Susantha leaving the room however, and shouted. When the victim’s parents came out, Susantha ran away.

The victim’s parents immediately went to the Galagedara Police Station and made a complaint about the incident. The police then took the victim’s statement and sent her to the Galagedara hospital. She was discharged the same day. The victim said that she was friendly with Susantha but never expected him to rape her. A human rights activist who interviewed her said that she is only a 14-year-old child, ignorant of such things.

Susantha was arrested by the Galagedara police but later released on bail. Meanwhile, his relatives are spreading rumors in the village that the victim is a prostitute, many men went to her house and Susantha was also invited to the house. As a result, she is unable to either go home, or to school. Her family fears that the police will not take the case seriously in supporting Susantha’s version of the incident. They are also concerned that Susantha is capable of abducting her.

The victim left her house and now is staying at another place with the help of a local human rights group. The group reported that she went to the school on August 22 and was asked to bring her parents to the school. Her mother went to school on August 24 but could not meet the principal who was not at the school. However, according to her class teacher and other teachers, the victim will be dismissed from the school soon as the school authorities were given false information.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to the Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority and urge him to order an inquiry into this case and provide assistance to the victim.

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