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Lawyers’ Collective calls for prosecution of Acting IGP for FR violations
The Lawyers Collective has written to Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, requesting him to prosecute respondents of the Fundamental Rights Application 107 /2011, including Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon.
The Lawyers Collective has said the Supreme Court found Tennakoon and two other police officers guilty of infringing upon the Fundamental Rights of petitioner Ranjith Sumangala guaranteed by Articles 11(1), 12(1), 13(1) and 13(2) of the Constitution relating to freedom from torture, the right to equality and freedom from arbitrary arrest, detention and punishment.
Full text of the letter, titled ‘SCFR Application No. 107/2011 decided on 14.12.2023 wherein three police officers namely one Bandara, Bathiya Jayasinghe Inspector of Police and M.W. Deshabandu Tennakone (the current Acting Inspector General of Police), the 1st, 2nd and 5th Respondents to the said Application were found guilty of infringing the fundamental rights guaranteed to Ranjith Sumangala, the Petitioner under Articles 11, 12(l), 13(2) of the Constitution’: The Supreme Court on 14.12.2023 found that the above named Police Officers, including the Current Acting Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakone have violated the fundamental rights guaranteed to the Petitioner, Ranjith Sumangala, by Articles 11, 12(l), 13(1) and 13(2) of the Constitution by assaulting the said Petitioner, Ranjith Sumangala, whilst in Police custody at the Mirihana Police Station, in order to extract confessions with regard to the robberies that the said Ranjith Sumangala had allegedly committed.
In the said judgment, the Supreme Court has unreservedly upheld the following contentions of the Petitioner.
1) that the 1st and 2nd Respondents above named tortured the petitioner at the Mirihana Police Station, in order to extract confessions with regards to robberies allegedly committed by the Petitioner.
2) that the 5th Respondent above-named tortured the Petitioner at the Mirihana Police Station on 17.12.2010 by beating him with a rubber band after stripping him naked and ordering him to rub Siddhalepa on his Genitals in order to extract confessions with regards to robberies allegedly committed by the Petitioner.
It would be clear to you that the above findings constitute the offence of torture under and in terms of section 2 of the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Act No 22 of 1994.
As the Supreme Court has held in Land Reform Commission v Grand Central Limited (1981) reiterated by Janak De Silva J in SC(FR) Application 209/2021, “The Attorney General has a duty to the court, to the state and to the Subject…. he is vested with extensive statutory powers in relation to criminal investigations and prosecutions. Such powers are held in public trust.
They must be exercised for the due administration of justice according to the Rule of Law the basis of our Constitution.
In as much as the aforesaid findings demonstrate the presence of clear acceptable material constituting the said offence of torture, the Lawyers Collective points out, that it is your bounden duty to immediately prosecute against the said officers for committing, inter alia, the said offence of torture.
The Lawyers Collective also points out to you, in as much as an impartial investigation cannot be done whilst the 5th Respondent above named is functioning as the Acting Inspector General of Police, it is also your bounden duty to advice the appropriate authorities to have the 5th Respondent above named i.e. M.W. Deshabandu Tennakone, interdicted pending investigation.”
The letter has been signed by Reinzie Arsecularatne PC, Upul Jayasuriya PC, Prof Savithri Goonesekera, Dinal Phillips PC, Saliya Peiris PC, Nalin Dissnayake PC, Prof Camena Gunaratne, Geoffrey Alagaratnam PC, Manoj Nanayakkara AAL, Amila Egodmawatta and Prof Deepia Udagama on behalf of the Lawyer’s Collective.
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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Monaragala
The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Monaragala effective untill 2100hrs on 12th May 2026.
Accordingly,
Level II landslide early warnings have been issued to the divisional secretaries division and surrounding areas of Passara in the Badulla district.
Level I landslide early warnings have been issued to the divisional secretaries divisions and surrounding areas of Bandarawela in the Badulla district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Pasbage Korale, Akurana, Gangawata Korale, Panvila, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Doluwa and Udapalatha in the Kandy district, Mawanella, Bulathkohupitiya, Yatiyanthota, Aranayaka, Kegalle and Rambukkana in the Kegalle district, Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, Rattota, Naula and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district and Badalkumbura and Wellawaya in the Monaragala district.
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Showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, Southern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee district.
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 11 MAY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 11 May 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
The low-level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka is likely to develop into a low-pressure area around the next 36 hours. Therefore, the prevailing showery conditions over the island are expected to continue during the next few days.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in most parts of the island and Cloudy skies are expected, under the influence of the aforementioned system. Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, Southern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
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Treasury theft: Speaker’s conduct brought to IPU’s attention: SJB
SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has sought the intervention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to pressure the JVP-NPP government to respect the rights of the Opposition.
MP Jayasekera told The Island that they wouldn’t allow the NPP to suppress the truth regarding the theft of Treasury funds amounting to USD 2.5 million. He accused Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne of depriving the Opposition of its legitimate rights, at the behest of the government.
Jayasekera said that the Speaker’s conduct regarding the action taken against Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, too, had been brought to the notice of IPU and other international associations.
The text of MP Jayasekera’s letter to the Secretary general of IPU: “I respectfully submit this petition seeking the attention and intervention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union concerning a matter affecting parliamentary accountability, the rights of elected representatives, and the proper functioning of constitutional oversight within the Parliament of Sri Lanka.
On 06 May 2026, I Dayasiri Jayasekara MP submitted a formal request to the Hon. Speaker of Parliament seeking permission, under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act No. 21 of 1953 and Standing Order 29(1), to raise a question of privilege regarding alleged constitutional and parliamentary violations by Mr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Treasury of Sri Lanka.
The proposed privilege motion raised matters including:
1. Alleged violations of Articles 148, 149, and 150 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka concerning parliamentary control over public finance;
2. Alleged failure to report to Parliament concerning a controversial and unlawful transfer of approximately USD 2.5 million from the Treasury;
3. Alleged non-compliance with parliamentary committee procedures under the Standing Orders of Parliament;
4. Questions relating to constitutional eligibility under Article 91(1)(d)(xiii) of the Constitution concerning dual citizenship and qualification to sit and vote in Parliament;
5. A request that the matter be referred to the Parliamentary Ethics and Privileges Committee established under Standing Order 118.
Despite the seriousness of the constitutional and parliamentary issues raised, the Hon. Speaker declined permission for the privilege issue to be raised in Parliament.
It is respectfully submitted that this refusal has the effect of:
• Preventing an elected Member of Parliament from exercising his parliamentary oversight function;
• Restricting parliamentary scrutiny over matters involving public finance and constitutional accountability;
• Undermining the privileges of Members of Parliament to raise matters of urgent public importance;
• Limiting institutional transparency concerning allegations involving senior state officials.
The right of parliamentarians to raise questions of privilege and matters relating to constitutional governance is an essential component of parliamentary democracy and legislative independence. The refusal to permit even the presentation or preliminary consideration of such a matter raises serious concerns regarding parliamentary accountability mechanisms in Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, I respectfully request that the Inter-Parliamentary Union:
1.Take cognizance of this matter as one affecting the rights and functions of Members of Parliament;
2.Seek clarification from the relevant parliamentary authorities in Sri Lanka regarding the grounds upon which the privilege motion was disallowed;
3.Consider whether the refusal is compatible with internationally recognised principles of parliamentary democracy, accountability, and freedom of parliamentary speech;
4. Encourage the Parliament of Sri Lanka to ensure fair and transparent procedures governing parliamentary privilege motions and constitutional oversight.
I further request that this communication be placed before the appropriate committee or mechanism within the IPU dealing with the rights and duties of parliamentarians.”
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