SRI LANKA: Witness to a corruption case’s home attacked; investigation needed

Dear friends,

A retired public school teacher who gave evidence before an inquiry committee appointed by the Department of Education and Ministry of Education on a corruption case, was attacked on 1 October 2011 at Circular Road, Galavilawatte, Homagama in Colombo District. He was inside his home when he heard shots being fired at two vehicles on his property as well as his house. The retired teacher gave evidence regarding a case of corruption that took place in order to admit students to the first grade of the school that he formerly worked at. The admissions process for grade one continues to be one of the most corrupt procedures in Sri Lanka. This case is yet another illustration of the police’s disregard of their sworn duties to serve and protect the citizens of Sri Lanka.

CASE NARRATIVE:

According to the information that Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) received Mr. Abewardana Wickramasuriya Ranpatabandige Lional Chandrasiri of No: 29/5, 2nd Lane, Town Circle Avenue, Homagama in Colombo District was a witness in a corruption case.

Chandrasiri is a retired government schoolteacher. He finally severed at Royal College Colombo. On 30 September 2011, he was called before an Inquiry Committee appointed by the Education Department and the Ministry of Education to give evidence regarding several cases of corruption which took place during the grade one admissions process of the school where he used to work. Every one of the cases clearly demonstrates violations of the financial regulations of the state. Chandrasiri gave his evidence before the committee and returned home.

Around 2:30am that night, he awoke to the sound of gunfire. He remained inside the house, but saw by the light of a streetlight that outside the front of the house were several motorbikes and around five people firing at his property. After the attackers had left, he saw that the two vehicles in front of his house, as well as the front of his house had been badly damaged by the shooting.

The next morning, he went the Homagama Headquarters Police Station and made a complaint about the incident. He seeks a prompt, efficient, transparent and independent investigation of the attack. He believes that the attack was an attempt on his life and that he is under serious threat for giving evidence against those who were involved in the corrupt admissions process. He believes that his life is in danger. However, the case has not been investigated, nor has he been provided with protection. None of the suspects have been arrested in relation to the attacks. There is a need for an efficient, transparent investigation and for the perpetrators of this violation to be brought to justice.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has reported innumerable cases of harassment to the the witnesses of cases whose cases have been neither accepted nor investigated by the Sri Lankan government. In many of these cases, the victims have faced harassment and on some occasions the witnesses have been killed. The AHRC has continuously urged the state of Sri Lanka regarding the necessity of adopting a witness protection law and implementing successful witness protection mechanisms to ensure the smooth running of the rule of law system. The state of Sri Lanka is legally bound to implement the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as it has signed and ratified the convention. Nevertheless, the lack of protection offered to those who are willing to take cases against criminals, abusive police officers and state authorities, means that the law is under-utilised and continues to be employed as a tool by the police to harass people. This not only takes a long-term toll on the victims and their families, but on society as a whole, by undermining civilian respect for the law and encouraging impunity.

SUGGESTED ACTION: 
Please send a letter to the authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case and requesting an immediate investigation into the case attacking the house of a witness of a corruption case. The criminals as well as the police officers who are having lethargic approach to investigate the crimes must also try before the court of law for breaching the laws of the country and also should be subjected to internal investigations for the breach of the department orders as issued by the police department.

Please note that the AHRC has also written a separate letter to the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers on this regard.

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