(UPDATE) Sri Lanka: Protection needed for torture victim seeking redress
On 23 July 2004 at about 10:45pm Inspector of Police (IP) Jayaweera of the Katupota Police station came by jeep (no. 61-7410), assaulted and arrested A.G. Ravindra. While he was being taken to the police station, IP Jayaweera told Ravindra that the police wanted to take his statement. However, when they arrived at the police station, a false complaint made by one Thusara was recorded and Ravindra was put into a cell.
The following day, Officer in Charge of Katupota Police, IP Kellum Attapattu assaulted Ravindra in his office with wooden poles, questioning why Ravindra had complained to the NHRC. When Ravindra collapsed from the assault, the OIC ordered another police officer to charge him in court and to get him remanded. The OIC further instructed the officer to inform the courts that an identification parade would be needed to remand the victim.
Accordingly, the Wariyapola magistrate remanded Ravindra until 29 July 2004, on which date he was released on bail.
AHRC is greatly disturbed by the behavior of the Katupota police who illegally took the victim into custody, assaulted him and got him remanded after falsely charging him in court, all in order to force him to withdraw his complaint to the NHRC. This case illustrates the collapse of rule of law in Sri Lanka and the blatant corruption and abuse of power by the police. The case also shows that it is imperative that all those who seek redress against such brutality by the police be given protection.
President
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo-1, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 11 2 333 7032. Hon. Mr. K. C. Kamalasabesan
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436 421
Email: attorney@sri.lanka.net or counsel@sri.lanka.net
3. Mr. Ranjith Abeysuriya PC
Chairman National Police Commission
69-1 Ward Place, Colombo 7
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 669 128 / 691 926
Fax HOME: +94 11 2 674148
E-mail: polcom@sltnet.lk
4. Inspector General of Police (IGP)
New Secretariat
Colombo 1,
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 381394/ 446174
5. Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
No. 36, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806
Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 / 696 470
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk
6. Mr. Theo C. van Boven
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
OHCHR-UNOG, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9016
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