SRI LANKA: Victim dies after severe torture by the Maharagama police in Colombo District 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned by the killing of a Mr. Don Wijerathna Munasinghe by the Maharagama police in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Mr. Munasinghe was arrested for a petty traffic offense on 10 April 2005 and severely tortured by the police. He succumbed to his injuries and died at the South Colombo Teaching Hospital at Kalubovila on April 16. No attempt has yet been made to arrest the perpetrators responsible for the victim’s torture and death.

This is yet another example of the appalling police brutality that continues in Sri Lanka. We urge you to urgently intervene in this case to deliver justice to the victim’s family. Please also urge the Government of Sri Lanka to take genuine steps to stop the common practice of torture and murder by the police throughout the country.

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

Name of the victim: Don Wijerathna Munasinghe, 49 years old
Address of the victim: No. 05, Pasal Mawatha, Niwanthidiya, Piliyandala, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Alleged perpetrators: Police officers attached to the Maharagama Police Station
Date of incident: 10-11 April 2005

Case details:

Mr. Don Wijerathna Munasinghe was arrested by police officers from the traffic branch of the Maharagama Police Station in Colombo District, Sri Lanka at the clock tower of Maharagama Junction at around 5:00pm on 10 April 2005. At the time, he was driving his three-wheeler with his wife and his son, one of his three children.

According to Mr. Munasinghe, he was arrested because he was not able to stop his vehicle as soon as the police officers indicated that he should do so. Mr. Munasinghe’s wife states that at the middle of the round-about (Watarauma) her husband was not able to stop the three-wheeler safely and so he had to stop the vehicle on the road.

However, Mr. Munasinghe was brutally assaulted by the arresting police officers by fists and boots in front of his wife and son. His wife and son pleaded with the police not to assault the victim as he was suffering from heart disease. However, they ignored their pleas and continued their assault. Finally, they pushed him into his three-wheeler in which they brought him to the Maharagama Police Station.  At the police station, Mr. Munasinghe was again severely assaulted by the police officers.

Mr. Munasinghe’s wife reported that early the following morning (April 11) at around 1:50am, she was called by the Maharagama police to come to the police station in the morning and take her husband. At around 6:45am, the police called her again and asked her to “immediately come and take the husband to the house.” She went to the police station but had to wait until the Officer in Charge (OIC) arrived at 10:30am. The police then released Mr. Munasinghe on bail. Police officers also went to their home and handed over the three-wheeler to the wife.

When he arrived at home, Mr. Munasinghe explained to his family how he was severely assaulted by the police officers. He said that the police assaulted him with wicket poles all over his body. Despite his serious injuries, the victim was reluctant to go to the hospital out of fear. His family first gave him medicine like Panadol, but as his condition worsened, they brought the victim to a private medical officer in Piliyandala.

Later Mr. Munasinghe was admitted to the South Colombo Teaching Hospital at Kalubovila. There he was treated in ward 26 and 5. He was transferred to the intensive care unit of the said hospital as there was blood in his urine. His wife saw a lot of dark blue marks on her husband’s body, which were a result of severe torture administered by the police officers, as well as other injuries on his hands, face, thighs, legs, back and other places.

Mr. Munasinghe died in the evening of 16 April 2005. He was survived by his wife and three children; Don Rasika Munasinghe (24), Don Yamuna Sandamalee Munasinghe (21) and Don Manoj Mahanama Munasinghe (16).

This is yet another example of the appalling police brutality that continues in Sri Lanka. The AHRC strongly urges the Government of Sri Lanka to order a thorough investigation into this case and bring those responsible for the torture and killing to court. The Government of Sri Lanka must take genuine steps to stop the common practice of torture and murder by the police.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to the relevant authorities addressed below and express your concern about this serious case.

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