Dear friends,
On 7 April 2006, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) reported how Kithsiri Dharawardena was brutally assaulted by about 100 inmates and trainees of the police training college in Ketapola (please see UA-121-2006). As a result of the brutal torture, Mr. Dhanawardena had to be hospitalised for more than one week at the Karapitiya hospital. The doctors discovered that his vertebrae had been damaged and he had to be fixed with a catheter.
Later in the face of apparent police inaction, furious villagers went on a rampage burning tyres and protesting against the police. Due to the massive protest against the incident the initially inactive Elpitiya police now had little option but to arrest several perpetrators and charge them before the Elpitiya Magistrate Court. They were then released on bail. However, Mr. Dhanawardena said that no steps have been taken to apprehend the other culprits whom he says he can recognise if seen again.
Mr. Dhanawardena complained about the incident to Janasansadaya, a grassroots level human rights organisation in Panadura and obtained legal assistance to file a case regarding the violation of his fundamental rights, before the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. Therefore, on 18 May 2006 the case SC/FR/149/06 was supported by Attorney-At-Law, Sharmaine Gunaratne. Accordingly on that day the Supreme Court granted leave to proceed in the case.
The next date of the case has been fixed for 1 September 2006.
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
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