SRI LANKA: Another alleged police murder of a man by the Moratuwa police

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information of another alleged police murder of a man, just 26 days after the murder of the torture victim, Gerald Perera, who died on November 24 after being shot by an unknown person with alleged links to the torture perpetrators.

According to the information we have received, a 59-year-old man named Ranson Peiris, died on 6 December 2004 due to serious injuries sustained from brutal torture by two sergeants of the Moratuwa police on the previous day. It is reported that Moratuwa Police gave a false statement to the hospital saying that they found the victim by the roadside. Additionally, a crucial eye witness of the victim’s assault has been given undue pressure by Moratuwa Police.

It is significant that this incident occurred while no person has been arrested regarding the case of Gerald Perera. During the last couple of years, the AHRC has raised its voice on the common practice of torture at police stations in Sri Lanka and has urged the government to take genuine action to put an end such brutal violence. However, torture victims have repeatedly encountered inaction by the government. The result is cruel. The government’s inaction helps to ensure the impunity of torture perpetrators, and in fact encourages them to commit such crimes against ordinary citizens in Sri Lanka.  

We call on you to write a letter to the Sri Lankan government urging that a thorough and impartial investigation be conducted into this incident, and full protection be provided to the witnesses and the victim’s family. Please also urge the relevant authorities to take strong disciplinary/legal action against responsible police officers.

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

Name of the victim: Mr M. Ranson Peiris, a 59-year-old carpenter, married with 7 children
Address of the victim: No. 30, Gnanaloka Mawatha, Egodauyana, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Alleged perpetrators:
1. Sergeant Silva of the Moratuwa Police Station (Court sergeant at the Moratuwa Magistrate Court)
2. Sergeant Jayantha Perera of the Moratuwa Police Station
Date of illegal arrest and torture: 5 December 2004
Date of death: 6 December 2004

Case details:

On 5 December 2004 at around 2 p.m., a 59-year-old carpenter, Mr M. Ranson Peiris, went to Mrs. Malani’s house to have a drink. Two sergeants, Mr Silva and Mr Jayantha Perera of the Moratuwa Police Station were already present there. For no apparent reason, these two police began to assault Mr Peiris brutally and took him to the Moratuwa Police Station in a three-wheeler by which they had come to the house. They then severely assaulted Mr. Peiris again at the police station. 

Mr Dhammika Chandranath Fernando, the Deputy Mayor of the Moratuwa Municipal Council, informed the victim’s family of his arrest. He then inquired the Moratuwa police about the victim’s arrest, but they told him that such a person had not been brought into their custody. However, some time later when Mr Peiris’s relatives went to the Moratuwa Police Station, they saw that the victim was lying in the police cell. As he looked severely injured, the relatives asked the police to take him to the hospital to receive medical treatment. However, the Moratuwa police refused to do so. 

At 10:00 pm on the same day (December 5), the Moratuwa Police took the victim to the Lunawa Government Hospital without informing his family of this. They allegedly gave a false statement to the hospital that they found the victim on the roadside. As Mr. Peiris was in a critical condition, he was transferred to the Kalubovila General Hospital and later to National Hospital Colombo. However, he succumbed to his injuries at around 11:30 a.m. on the following day (December 6).

A post-mortem on the victim’s body was conducted by Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) from the Colombo General Hospital. In his report, the JMO declared that Mr. Peiris had been assaulted by blunt weapons. He found nine external injuries on the vcitm’s body and damage of his thyroid glands due to the assault on his neck. The JMO concluded that the victim’s death was caused by the rupture of blood vessels of his brain. The

Moratuwa Magistrate Courthas begun an inquest into Mr. Peiris’s death (Case No. 6741NS/2004). 

In the meantime, Mrs. Malani, who witnessed the victim’s assault and illegal arrest by two sergeants at her house, gave her statement to the Mt. Lavinia Police and theMoratuwa Magistrate Court. However, none of the Mt. Lavinia Police were present for two days while the magisterial inquest was being held. The next inquest is scheduled for 16 December 2004. 

According to the latest information, the two accused police sergeants have not been arrested. In particular, Sergeant Silva continues his service as a court sergeant at theMoratuwa Magistrate Court, where the inquest of the case is going on. More seriously, it is alleged that the Moratuwa police have been pressuring Mrs. Malani, a crucial eye-witness of the case, not to give a statement against the two police sergeants. 

The villagers informed this incident to the Human Rights Commission (HRC) of Sri Lanka on December 8, and the victim’s son also lodged a complained to the NHRC on December 13. However, the HRC officer, who received the complaint, told the son that they needed the post-mortem report to start the investigation. In fact, it is difficult for ordinary citizens in Sri Lanka to obtain post-mortem reports. In many cases, the post-mortem reports are not open to the public, even to the family of the victims. So far, no serious action has been taken by the HRC of Sri Lanka into this case.  

The AHRC strongly urges the Sri Lankan government to immediately inquire into this case and arrest/prosecute the responsible police officers. The government must provide protection to the victim’s family and witnesses and immediately suspend the alleged perpetrators in order to ensure their security. The Sri Lankan Government must fulfill its international obligation by introducing effective and realistic legislative measures for witness protection. Only in this way, the Sri Lankan government will be able to regain the trust and confidence of the people.    

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter, fax or an email to the addresses below and ask them to take immediate action into this case.

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