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BASL raises concerns over violent death of person remanded for contempt of court

Published

1 year ago

2025/05/9

The BAR Association (BASL) has raised concerns over the death of an individual at the Angunukolapelessa Prison recently.BASL has said in a media statement that the suspect had been remanded on contempt of court charges following an incident at the Embilipitiya Court, where he had presented himself as a surety for a friend.

Expressing concern over the suspect’s demise within less than 48 hours of being remanded, BASL has pointed out that the postmortem examination revealed injuries to

the head, which raises questions about his treatment while under Police and Prison custody.

As such, BASL has called for an immediate, impartial, and independent investigation into the circumstances of this death that took place in custody and accountability for all those whose actions or omissions contributed to this miscarriage of justice.

Full text of the statement signed by BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya and Secretary Chatura Galhena: “The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) expresses its deep concern over the tragic death of a suspect, who was remanded and later died while in state custody under disturbing circumstances.

“The deceased had presented himself before the Embilipitiya Magistrate’s Court as a surety of a suspect. It is reported that due to an incident that he had taken place within the Court room he had been detained by the Police and produced before the Learned Magistrate on the following day where the Learned Magistrate had ordered that he be remanded on a charge of Contempt of Court.

“We are deeply concerned that contempt provisions have been used in this instance and would make due representation with our detailed position to the judicial Service Commission.

“Even more troubling is the fact that within less than 48 hours of his being remanded, the suspect was reported dead. The information available thus far, including reports of head injuries revealed at the postmortem examination, raises serious question about the treatments he received while in the custody of Police and Prison Authorities.”

The BASL has stressed that the State bears a fundamental and non-derogable obligation to protect the life, dignity and bodily integrity of all persons deprived of liberty. The judiciary and prison authorities alike are bound by law to uphold the rights of individuals under their custody and to ensure that no person is subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

The BASL has called the following:

1. An immediate, impartial, and investigations into the circumstances of this death that took place in custody;

2. Accountability for all those whose actions or omissions contributed to this grave miscarriage of justice, and

3 A systemic review of the exercise, of contempt powers, and remand procedures to ensure they are applied consistently with constitutional guarantees, human rights standards, and the basic tenets of fairness and proportionality.

The BASL has said: “This death is not merely a personal tragedy, it is a profound institutional failure. As Members of the Legal Profession and as Guardians of the Rule of Law, we remind all State Authorities that Justice must always be tempered with humanity and that no citizen, however humble, is expendable.”

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Thileepan rembered on 39th death anniversary

Published

3 mins ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

(Pic by PRIYAN DE SILVA)

A commemorative service was held in memory of Rasaiah Parthipan commonly known by the nom de guerre ‘Thileepan’ in Nallur Jaffna this morning (27).

Parthipan a revolutionary member of the LTTE and a student of the University of Jaffna, commenced a hunger strike on 15th September 1987 untill his death on 26th September 1987. He was 23 years old at the time of his demise.

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

Published

14 hours ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

The National Building Research Institute has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura from 16:00 hrs on 25.09.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 26.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Neluwa, Nagoda, Niyagama and Thawalama inthe Galle district, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa and Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, and Kothmale West, Ambagamuwa, Kotmale East and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district.

LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Elpitiya, Baddegama and Karandeniya in the Galle district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Deltota, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Yatinuwara and Panvila in the Kandy district, Aranayake, Dehiowita, Mawanella, Deraniyagala and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district, Thalawakelle in the Nuwara Eliya district and Ratnapura and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Katuwana and Walasmulla in the Hambanthota district, Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Hatharaliyadda, Poojapitiya, Medadumbara, Kundasale, Ududumbara, Thumpane, Akurana, Pathadumbara, Harispattuwa and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Warakapola, Bulathkohupitiya, Galigamuwa, Kegalle and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kegalle district, Pitabeddara, Kotapola and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Elapatha, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Kuruwita and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district

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22A, Judicature Amendment Bills passed with 2/3 majority

Published

15 hours ago

2026/09/26

Thilina Walpola

Parliament yesterday passed the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill with two-thirds majorities, with 158 MPs voting in favour and 63 against each Bill.

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) voted with the SJB against the Bills.

NDF MPs Ravi Karunanayake and Faizer Musthapha and SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka were not present when the votes were taken.

The final vote on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was announced at around 8.08 p.m. after Opposition MPs called for divisions on its clauses during the Committee Stage.

The votes followed a two-day debate which commenced on Thursday (24), after Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Bills for their Second Reading.

The Supreme Court’s determination on the Bills was presented to Parliament on Tuesday (22) by Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne. The Court determined that the 22nd Amendment Bill did not require approval at a referendum and could be passed by a special two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The amendment provides for raising the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also provides for the Chief Justice to retire at 67 or after completing six years in office, whichever comes earlier.

The Speaker informed Parliament that the Judicature (Amendment) Bill could be passed by a simple majority.

The SJB opposed the legislation and its MPs attended Parliament dressed in black yesterday. The party also staged a protest at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, under the theme “No to 22, which destroys democracy”, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB politicians participating.