We, the undersigned civil society collective, express our profound concern and unequivocally condemn the tragic incidents that occurred at Negombo Prison between 5 and 7 July 2026. These clashes resulted in the loss of at least 31 lives, including 10Ā prison officers, and left over 100 individuals injured. Moreover, we are deeply alarmed by verified […]
āAlthough eradicating drugs from a country is an essential matter, destroying the lives of innocent citizens by imprisoning them on fabricated charges in the name of drug suppression can in no way be condoned. One of the most serious tragedies we see today is the misuse of the law by certain corrupt police officers to
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA On July 2, 2026, the Right to Life (R2L) Human Rights Centre, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Collective Against Torture (SLCAT), hosted a vital stakeholder consultation and policy dialogue at Hotel Ramada, Colombo. Held under the theme “The Urgency of Torture Eradication and Our Collective Responsibility,” the event brought together a
On June 26, 2026, human rights defenders, legal experts, and citizens gathered to observe the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The event brought together voices from the Human Rights First Aid Centre (HRFAC) in Anuradhapura, the Anuradhapura District Citizensā Committee, and Right to Life (R2L) to shed light on the urgent need
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has granted leave to proceed in the Fundamental Rights application bearing No. SCFR/28/2025 filed by Mr. Dinesh Madhusanka Liyanage, a resident of Yagirala Neluwa Mahagedarawatta, alleging unlawful arrest, illegal detention, and torture by officers attached to the Ittapana Police Station. The petition was taken up before a three-judge bench
The Right to Life Human Rights Centre together with the Colombo Human Rights First Aid Centre today hosted āColombo Dialogue 02ā at Sandhara CafĆ© as part of a series of events marking the upcoming International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The dialogue brought together legal professionals, activists and civil society representatives to discuss
“Is Torture Indispensable?” – Colombo Dialogue 02 Read More Ā»
The inaugural dialogue of the Colombo Dialogue Forum, organized by the Right to Life Human Rights Centre, took place on March 13 at 3.30 PM at the Sandhara Dialogue Cafe. The event, organized by the Colombo Human Rights First Aid Centre and moderated by Amandi Hitinayake, explored the theme “Gulf War: Destruction or Change?”. The
“Gulf War: Destruction or Change?”. Read More Ā»
Colombo, October 10, 2025 ā The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ruled that six officers of the Kottawa Police violated the fundamental rights of Mr. Vithanage Sunil and ordered them to personally pay Rs. 1,000,000 in compensation, holding them directly accountable for the assault. The judgment, delivered by Justice Menaka Wijesundera in case SC
Supreme Court Orders Rs. 1 Million Compensation for Victim of Police Torture Read More Ā»
Colombo, October 3 – Serious allegations have emerged against the Kandana Police for allegedly violating fundamental rights by unlawfully arresting and detaining a man, torturing him. This not only violated the basic rights of the individual and criminal laws, but also ignored the recommendations from the Hon. Supreme Court and the Human Rights Commission of
Kandana Police Accused of Illegal Arrest and Torture Read More Ā»
