The Right to Life human rights centre identifies the acquittal of a former army captain and his driver after a 24-year trial as a tragedy that highlights a critical breakdown in Sri Lanka’s criminal justice system.
The Colombo High Court on November 24 ordered the acquittal and release of former Army Captain Udayashantha Kodithuwakku and his driver, concluding a case that began in 2001.
The Fair Justice Campaign of the Right to Life Centre views the incident not merely as a court verdict, but as a stark illustration of the crisis within Sri Lanka’s justice process.
The two men were accused of robbing a mobile phone valued at Rs. 20,000 from a jewellery shop in Wellawatte in 2001. The indictment alleged they used a firearm and a “Rambo” knife during the incident.
The Fair Justice Campaign questions the fairness of the two individuals being caught in the judicial process for 24 years (2001-2025) over the alleged theft of a single mobile phone. “Who will compensate them for the mental distress they have endured for 24 years, which has destroyed their professional lives, family backgrounds, and social image?”
High Court Judge Lanka Jayaratne ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt.
TheĀ Fair Justice Campaign criticised the police and the Attorney General’s Department for what it termed irresponsible conduct in initiating the case. The organisation argued that if a case maintained for over two decades is ultimately dismissed due to insufficient evidence, it raises serious questions about the initial investigation. “Filing a case without proper evidence is a violation of a citizen’s rights,” the centre stated.
The organisation also suggested the case may have been fabricated, pointing to the “illogical” nature of the charge that a military captain would storm a jewellery store with deadly weapons only to steal a mobile phone. “In this instance, the suspects are not criminals but victims of a weak legal system and police arbitrariness,” Right to Life noted.
The centre concluded that the acquittal after 24 years is not a victory for the system, but a mirror reflecting its failure. It called for immediate action against investigative officers who file baseless cases, and for the establishment of a mechanism to compensate aggrieved parties.