Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about the extra-judicial killing of Mr. D P Premasiri (65) of Stace Road, Grandpass, Colombo 14 in the Colombo District. On 9 August 2017, Premasiri was illegally arrested, severely tortured at his house in front of his relatives and neighbors. Later, he was handcuffed and pushed against a parapet wall causing him to fall over on the ground and was fatally injured. He was brought to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka by relatives and pronounced dead on admission. Police promised to investigate but no investigation has yet been carried out into the death of Premasiri.
CASE NARRATIVE:
The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information about the case of Mr. D P Premasiri (45) of Stace Road, Grandpass, Colombo 14 in the Colombo District. Premasiri was married, chronically ill and suffering with heart ailments. He was treated for several years at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) in Colombo.
On 9 August 2017, at 11:30 a.m. five Police Officers attached to the Police Raid Unit of the Colombo North Police Division arrived at Premasiri’s residence. There was a woman in the Officers’ custody when they arrived.
Immediately after entering the house, Police questioned the residents of the house, saying they were looking for one named Premasiri. He came forward. The Officers started to assault him with fists and kicks. The wife pleaded with the Officers not to hurt him as he is a heart patient, innocent and just returned home after several days of in-patient treatment at the NHSL. She very clearly was brave and told them that if any dangerous thing happened to her husband, the Officers would be responsible for his life.
Then, the Police cuffed his hands together, continuing the assault irrespective of the wife’s pleadings, until the victim lost control. They took him out of the house pushing him up against a parapet wall where he fell and was fatally injured. The Officers did not intend to provide any assistance to the fallen victim nor did they take any steps to secure his life. They ordered family members and neighbors to attend to the victim and bring him to the NHSL for treatment. Although the relatives brought the victim to the Emergency Treatment Unit of the NHSL, he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A Police Media spokesman’s office issued a communique stating that the Police have launched a special investigation. It is under the supervision of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of the Colombo North Police which consisted of three other Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP). Police further promised that they will take necessary legal action against the identified perpetrators.
Violation of Rights of the Victims
The relatives state that, their relative was severely tortured, illegally arrested and detained by the Police even after he was fatally injured. After being handcuffed, the Police never attended to him or provided the necessary assistance to protect his life while he was in their custody.
It is the opinion of the relatives that, Police have not yet investigated the crime or arrested the responsible Police Officers for torturing and murdering their relative. They call upon their right to JUSTICE. They vehemently reiterate their right to a proper investigation. It is necessary that justice is seen to be done.
The Asian Human Rights Commission requests the Law Enforcement Authorities, especially the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney General of the country to investigate, and prosecute the accountable Police perpetrators in this case. The AHRC stands for an efficient democratic system of reasonably functioning Law Enforcement Agencies in Sri Lanka.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the Authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case. Kindly request an immediate investigation into allegations of an extra-judicial killing by the Police. Prosecution of those proven to be responsible under Criminal Law is imperative. The Officers involved should also be subject to an internal investigation for breach of Police Departmental Orders. The AHRC will write a separate letter to the Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions in this regard.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ________,
SRI LANKA: Innocent man tortured to death by Colombo North Division Police
Name of Victim: Mr. D P Premasiri (65) of Stace Road, Grandpass, Colombo 14 in the Colombo District
Alleged perpetrators: Officers attached to the Police Raid Unit of the Colombo North Police Division
Date of incident: 9 August 2017
Place of incident: Colombo North Police Division
According to information I have received, Mr. D P Premasiri (45) of Stace Road, Grandpass, Colombo 14 is a resident in the Colombo District. Premasiri was married, chronically ill and suffering with heart ailments. He was treated for several years at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) in Colombo.
On 9 August 2017, at 11:30 a.m. five Police Officers attached to the Police Raid Unit of the Colombo North Police Division arrived at Premasiri’s residence. There was a woman in the Officers’ custody when they arrived.
Immediately after entering the house, Police questioned the residents of the house, saying they were looking for one named Premasiri. He came forward. The Officers started to assault him with fists and kicks. The wife pleaded with the Officers not to hurt him as he is a heart patient, innocent and just returned home after several days of in-patient treatment at the NHSL. She very clearly was brave and told them that if any dangerous thing happened to her husband, the Officers would be responsible for his life.
Then, the Police cuffed his hands together, continuing the assault irrespective of the wife’s pleadings, until the victim lost control. They took him out of the house pushing him up against a parapet wall where he fell and was fatally injured. The Officers did not intend to provide any assistance to the fallen victim nor did they take any steps to secure his life. They ordered family members and neighbors to attend to the victim and bring him to the NHSL for treatment. Although the relatives brought the victim to the Emergency Treatment Unit of the NHSL, he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A Police Media spokesman’s office issued a communique stating that the Police have launched a special investigation. It is under the supervision of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of the Colombo North Police which consisted of three other Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP). Police further promised that they will take necessary legal action against the identified perpetrators.
Violation of Rights of the Victims
The relatives state that, their relative was severely tortured, illegally arrested and detained by the Police even after he was fatally injured. After being handcuffed, the Police never attended to him or provided the necessary assistance to protect his life while he was in their custody.
It is the opinion of the relatives that, Police have not yet investigated the crime or arrested the responsible Police Officers for torturing and murdering their relative. They call upon their right to JUSTICE. They vehemently reiterate their right to a proper investigation.
It is necessary that justice is seen to be done.
The Asian Human Rights Commission requests the Law Enforcement Authorities, especially the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney General of the country to investigate, and prosecute the accountable Police perpetrators in this case. The AHRC stands for an efficient democratic system of reasonably functioning Law Enforcement Agencies in Sri Lanka.
I therefore request your intervention to ensure that an immediate investigation is undertaken into the death of Premasiri. The Officers involved must also be subject to an internal investigation for breach of Departmental Orders.
Yours Sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Pujith Jayasundara
Inspector General of Police
New Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440 / 327877
E-mail: igp@police.lk
2. Mr. Jayantha Jayasooriya PC
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436421
E-mail: ag@attorneygeneral.gov.lk
3. Mr. N. Ariyadasa Cooray
Secretary
National Police Commission
3rd Floor, Rotunda Towers
109 Galle Road
Colombo 03
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 395310
Fax: +94 11 2 395867
E-mail: npcgen@sltnet.lk or polcom@sltnet.lk
4. Secretary
Human Rights Commission
No. 36, Kynsey Road
Colombo 8
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806
Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 / 696 470
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
