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SLCAT condemns police shooting at Rambukkana

Published

4 years ago

2022/04/25

Sri Lanka Collective against Torture (SLCAT) in a statement issued to the media yesterday condemned the violence by the Police on 19th April 2022 at Rambukkana.

The statement said: Police officials are alleged to have used violence, including beating with batons, and firing live ammunition repeatedly at people fleeing. These actions are alleged to have caused grave injuries to civilians, agitating against government actions particularly the hike in fuel prices, and bystanders. Reports have been received of at least one confirmed death and over 12 citizens injured with two in critical condition as a result of violence by the police.

Police brutality is systemic and widespread and has become a normalized part of the maintenance of law and order in the country. SLCAT has continuously urged decision – makers to address the structural nature of this problem and to respond expeditiously and meaningfully to victims of such violence.

The government of Sri Lanka, including all officers and hierarchy of the police, are bound to adhere to the Constitution of Sri Lanka that recognizes the right of any person in Sri Lanka to be free from torture as an absolute fundamental right (Article 11). Further, the Convention against Torture Act 1994, enacted to fulfill Sri Lanka’s international obligations as a party to the UN Convention against Torture, criminalizes torture. The Sri Lankan constitution also prohibits any citizen from being punished with death or imprisonment except by order of a competent court (Article 13(4).

Despite pledges by successive governments to address the systemic nature of torture there has been hardly any substantive change to the practices of the police. This is directly linked to the failure to hold those who use violence accountable. For instance, the use of live ammunition seemingly as a first response, rather than the use of de-escalation techniques and non-violent means to diffuse tension, and the description by authorities of such action as “minimum force” demonstrates that the use of violence has become normalized. The police response that the individual who was killed had cases against him also attempts to justify and normalize violence against persons perceived as suspected criminals. Governments have also failed to demonstrate the political will necessary to acknowledge and engage in urgent institutional reform.

SLCAT calls for (a) The incidents at Rambukkana to be immediately subject to an impartial and independent investigation and all those involved in the perpetration of violence against citizens to be held accountable expeditiously, (b) The results of the investigation to be made public to ensure transparency and accountability, (c) The government to immediately apologize to the victims and their families and take responsibility for the direct and wider harms caused to its citizens, (d) The government and the IGP to immediately pledge to ensure the safety and security of the families of victims, especially ensure that they are not subject to reprisals for seeking accountability for the incident or providing information to the investigation, (e) Provision of compensation and all other facilities to secure recovery for the families of the victims and (f) The government and the IGP to take measures to ensure non-recurrence of such acts of brutality and/or use of disproportionate and lethal force against civilians.

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

15 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

15 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

15 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.