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Attacks on Muslims in Digana premeditated: HRCSL

Published

10 months ago

2025/09/8

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has released its report on the violent events in Digana, and surrounding areas, in March 2018, stressing that the attacks on the Muslim community were premeditated rather than spontaneous reactions to local tensions. The report, made public on 01 September 2025, calls for a wide-ranging set of reforms across law enforcement, education, and government institutions to prevent future communal violence.

According to the HRCSL, the Teldeniya Police acted promptly and lawfully in arresting those suspected of assaulting a person named H.G. Kumarasinghe, but false claims of inaction by organised groups incited further violence against Muslims.

The inquiry concluded that while some errant police and STF officers may have supported the attacks, the law enforcement authorities, as a whole, did not actively promote violence. The failure to prevent the attacks stemmed largely from inadequate intelligence, resources, and personnel, forcing the Army to intervene to restore order.

The HRCSL has emphasised that the Digana incident fits a recurring pattern of targeted attacks against Muslim communities in Sri Lanka. It has cited similar episodes in Gintota, Ampara, and historical instances dating back to 1915. It warned that discriminatory policies and practices such as restrictions on religious expression, mandatory cremation policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, and long-term detention under anti-terror laws have created a hostile environment exploited by extremist groups.

The HRCSL s report includes detailed recommendations for 11 government ministries and agencies. Key proposals include the following:

* Ministry of Law and Order: Strengthen intelligence gathering, establish rapid response systems to prevent communal violence, address low morale among police officers, and form inclusive civil committees with monthly meetings involving local police.

* Ministry of Social Services and Welfare: Screen organisations seeking registration to prevent divisive or extremist agendas.

* Ministry of Education: Introduce national reconciliation and coexistence as compulsory subjects, end ethnically or religiously segregated schooling, and provide inclusive curricula promoting human rights and civic values.

* Ministry of Youth Affairs: Implement youth empowerment and training programmes, especially for those implicated in violent incidents, to promote attitudinal change.

* Ministries of Sports and Government Administration: Encourage inter-community participation in sports and community projects, develop networks at local levels to promote reconciliation, and monitor compensation for victims of violence.

* Ministry of Women and Child Affairs: Provide medical, educational, and material support to children and families affected by the Digana violence.

The report also stresses the urgent need for stronger legal mechanisms to hold law enforcement officers accountable for misconduct, including torture, custodial deaths, enforced disappearances, and assaults. It recommends the creation of an independent Office for the Investigation and Prosecution of Serious Crimes by State Officials, empowered to investigate and prosecute human rights violations impartially.

As for the issue of hate speech, the HRC has highlighted that Section 3 of the ICCPR Act criminalising advocacy of racial or religious hatred has not been applied effectively, leaving instigators of violence in Digana largely unpunished. The Commission called for immediate enforcement of the law, particularly against online hate speech, while also addressing deeper social, economic, and cultural drivers of inter-communal tension.

The HRCSL has also noted that segregated schooling and exclusionary historical narratives contribute to prejudice, calling for reforms to create inclusive, diverse learning environments where children from different ethnic and religious communities can build mutual trust and resilience.

The report concludes that sustainable peace and coexistence require coordinated action by national, provincial, and local authorities, alongside law enforcement, civil society, and educational institutions, to prevent the perpetuation of communal violence in Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lankan singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke passes away at the age of 68

Published

5 hours ago

2026/07/10

Priyan

(Pic facebook)

It has been reported quoting family sources that veteran singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke has passed away this morning (10) at the age of 68

She had been receiving treatment at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.

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Sallay’s wife further complains to HRC over continuing violation of husband’s FRs by CID

Published

8 hours ago

2026/07/10

Thilina Walpola

The wife of retired Major General Suresh Sallay has lodged a further complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), alleging that her husband’s fundamental rights continue to be violated as Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers prevent him from having confidential consultations with his lawyer while he is under detention at the National Hospital.

In a letter addressed to the HRCSL Chairman on Thursday, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay has said the latest complaint was filed in relation to an earlier complaint concerning the detention and treatment of her husband.

Full text of the letter: I, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay, respectfully write to lodge this further complaint in relation to my earlier complaint bearing reference H RC-HO-1 103-26, concerning the detention and treatment of my husband, Retired Major General Suresh Sallay.

I wish to bring to the attention of the Commission a further serious violation of his fundamental rights that occurred on 08 July 2026 during a consultation between my husband and his Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Asith Siriwardena, while my husband remains under detention and is receiving treatment at the National Hospital.

I am informed by his Counsel that he is presently permitted to consult with my husband only once a week for a period of approximately twenty minutes. During the consultation held on 08 July 2026, officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) stationed at the Cardiac Coronary Care Unit of the National Hospital informed Counsel that they had received instructions from higher authorities that my husband should not be permitted to meet with his

legal counsel in private. Consequently, the officers remained present throughout the consultation and refused to permit a confidential lawyer-client meeting.

This conduct constitutes a grave infringement of my husband’s fundamental right to communicate privately and confidentially with his legal counsel. Confidential communication between an accused or detainee and his lawyer is an indispensable safeguard of the right to legal representation, the right to prepare his defence, and the right to a fair trial. The denial of confidential legal consultations undermines these fundamental protections guaranteed under the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the applicable provisions governing persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

The confidentiality of communications between a lawyer and client is also a well-recognized principle under international human rights law and forms an essential safeguard against arbitrary detention, coercion, and unfair legal proceedings.

In view of the foregoing, I respectfully request the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to urgently intervene and take all necessary steps within its statutory mandate to:

1. Ensure that my husband is afforded immediate and unrestricted confidential access to his legal counsel without the presence or supervision of law enforcement officers;

2. Inquire into the instructions allegedly issued by higher authorities requiring CID officers to remain present during lawyer-client consultations;

3. Direct the relevant authorities to cease any practice that interferes with confidential legal consultations; and

4. Take such further action as the Commission considers appropriate to safeguard my husband’s constitutional and human rights.

This complaint is made as a further complaint to Complaint No. H RC-HO-1103-26, and I respectfully request that it be placed on the same file and considered together with my previous complaints.

I respectfully seek the Commission’s urgent intervention in this matter.

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SC upholds Commercial HC ruling that Weerawansa violated intellectual property rights of JVP

Published

8 hours ago

2026/07/10

Thilina Walpola

The Supreme Court yesterday (9) upheld a Colombo Commercial High Court order directing former Minister Wimal Weerawansa to pay Rs. 1 million in damages to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva for violating intellectual property rights.

A three-member Supreme Court bench dismissed in its entirety an appeal filed by Weerawansa challenging the earlier Commercial High Court ruling.

The case was instituted by Silva, who alleged that Weerawansa had violated provisions of the Intellectual Property Act by publishing his book “Neththa Wenuwata Aththa” (“Truth Instead of Lies”), which contained the JVP’s political ideology and official party documents without authorisation.

The Supreme Court also affirmed the order restraining the publication and distribution of the book in its existing form. However, the court ruled that the book could be republished if the 60-page section identified as infringing intellectual property rights was removed.