SRI LANKA: Fear of life; Inhuman treatment and torture by the police
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– Full Name of the Victim: Brahmanage Aruna Sheron Suranga WIJEWARDANE (27)
– Residential Address: 444B Batagama South, Kandana
– Date of Torture by police: August 26, 2002
– Perpetrators: Officers attached to the Criminal Investigations Department Head Quarters in Colombo
CASE DETAILS
Mr. Brahmanage Aruna Sheron Suranga WIJEWARDANE (27) of 444B Batagama South, Kandana, was handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Head Quarters at Colombo to assist an inquiry by the CID. Mr. Wijewardane was handed over by his uncle Mr. Lenard Nonis to the Superintendent of Police (SP) Nimal Kulathunga of CID at the CID Head Quarters at 9:45am on 26 August 2002. When Mr. Wijewardene was being handed over, SP Nimal Kulathunga promised to Mr. Nonis that Mr. Wijewardane would not be assaulted.
However, Mr. Wijewardane was hung and severely beaten by the officers attached to the CID upon his submission. The officers attached to the CID used a high power hose to spray water onto the genitals of Mr. Wijewardane, which has inflicted enormous pain on him and caused his genitals to swell.
On 27 August 2002, at about 7:00pm, Mr. Wijewardane was produced before the Gampaha Magistrate. Lawyer Mr. Janaka Bandara appeared for Mr. Wijewardane. The Magistrate ordered that Mr. Wijewardane be produced at the Gampaha Magistrate Courts.
On 28 August 2002, Mr. Wijewardane was produced at the Gampaha Magistrate Court. His lawyer Mr. Bandara informed the magistrate about the torture inflicted by the CID upon Mr. Wijewardane. The magistrate ordered the remand authorities to produce Mr. Wijewardane before the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) for examination and treatment immediately. However, to date (up to 2:00pm Sri Lanka time on 29 August 2002) he has not been produced before the JMO. His family fears for his life and health, so would like him to receive immediate medical treatment. The family fears that remand authorities are under pressure from perpetrators of torture not to produce him before the JMO until wounds are healed and visible marks on the body disappeared.
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) urges you to send your appeal to the Sri Lankan authorities to intervene urgently to direct the responsible authorities to bring Mr. Wijewardane to the JMO and provide him with medical treatment immediately.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Please send your appeal to the Prime Minister, Attorney General and Deputy Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear
Re: Torture case of Mr. Brahmanage Aruna Sheron Suranga WIJEWARDANE
I am writing this to bring to your urgent attention the assault and brutal torture of Brahmanage Aruna Sheron Suranga WIJEWARDANE by the officers attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sri Lanka.
I have learned that Mr. Wijewardane had been handed over to the CID Head Quarters in Colombo to assist an inquiry by the CID. However, even though the Superintendent of Police (SP) of CID had promised he would not be assaulted or harmed, he was hung and severely beaten by the officers attached to the CID upon his submission on August 26, 2002. The officers used a high power hose to spray water onto his genitals, which has inflicted enormous pain on him and caused his genitals to swell.
Furthermore, Mr. Wijewardane was produced at the Gampaha Magistrate Court so the magistrate was informed of the torture on August 28, 2002. Therefore, the magistrate ordered the remand authorities to produce him before the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) for examination and medical treatment immediately. However, he has not been produced before the JMO. This is presumably because the remand authorities are under pressure from perpetrators of torture not to produce him before the JMO until wounds are healed and visible marks on his body disappeared.
I am urging you to intervene urgently to direct the responsible authorities to bring Mr. Wijewardane to the JMO and provide him with medical treatment immediately. I am sure that you can understand his family’s fear for his life and health.
I look forward to learning about your prompt response to my request.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely yours,
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PLEASE SEND LETTERS BY FAX OR EMAIL TO:
1. Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe
Prime Minister
Cambridge Place
Colombo 7
SRI LANKA
Fax: 941 682905 or 542919 (Secretary to the PM)
Email: secpm@sltnet.lk (Secretary to the PM) or bradmanw@slt.lk
SALUTATION: Hon. Prime Minister
2. Hon. Mr. K.C. Kamalasabesan
Attorney General
Attorney – General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +941 436421
SALUTATION: Dear Attorney General
3. Mr. B.M. Liyanage
Deputy Inspector General of Police
DIG’s Office,
Colombo 1,
SRI LANKA
Fax: +941 328874
Also send a copy of your letter to:
Secretary
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
Kynsey Road, Borella, Colombo 8
SRL LANKA
Fax: +941 694 924
Email: sechrc@sltnet.lk
