An incident involving the alleged assault, unlawful arrest, and remand of a serving police officer following a wedding reception has been reported from the Gandara Police area, raising serious concerns over police conduct, abuse of authority, and violations of fundamental rights.
The victim, Police Sergeant P.D. Upul Thushara, is attached to the Expressway Division, Agunukolapelessa Sub-Control Unit. According to information received, the incident occurred on 8 December at a wedding reception held at the Dumidu Reception Hall in Parawahera, which Sergeant Thushara attended upon an invitation from the groom’s party.
Reports indicate that during the reception, a dispute erupted between two groups and escalated into a physical altercation. Following a tip-off, the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Gandara Police Station, along with several police officers, arrived at the venue. It is alleged that, without conducting any preliminary inquiry or ascertaining individual responsibility, the officers assaulted Sergeant Thushara publicly and in an inhuman manner.
Despite Sergeant Thushara repeatedly informing the officers that he was not involved in the altercation and identifying himself as a serving police sergeant, the assault allegedly continued for some time. Although the beating was later stopped, the officers reportedly stated that releasing him would “create problems” for them. Sergeant Thushara, along with two other individuals present at the venue, was subsequently arrested and taken to the Gandara Police Station.
Witnesses and members of the complainant party reportedly informed the police that none of the three arrested individuals were involved in the incident. However, these statements were allegedly disregarded, and all three were produced before the Matara Magistrate’s Court, which ordered that they be remanded until 16 December.
When the case was taken up again on 16 December, the complainant party informed the court through legal counsel that the three accused were not involved in the alleged assault and stated that this information had also been conveyed to the OIC of Gandara Police on the day of the incident. Taking these submissions into account, the Magistrate granted bail and referred the matter to a mediation board.
On 27 December, both parties appeared before the mediation board and resolved the dispute amicably. However, Sergeant Thushara has since been subjected to a suspension from service, further compounding the impact of the incident on his professional and personal life.
Sergeant Thushara stated that the actions of the OIC of Gandara Police constitute a clear violation of his fundamental rights. He further stated that he will file formal complaints with the Inspector General of Police, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, and the National Police Commission, seeking accountability and appropriate legal action against those responsible.
It is noteworthy that Priyantha Weerasooriya has recently issued instructions to police stations across the country emphasizing that arrests and prosecutions based on false allegations must be avoided. Nevertheless, information reaching Right to Life suggests that such incidents continue to occur, highlighting a serious gap between policy directives and practice.
Against this backdrop, civil society observers and human rights defenders are closely monitoring how police leadership will respond to this incident and whether meaningful steps will be taken to ensure accountability and prevent similar abuses in the future.
By Tharanga L. Patabendi
Hambantota Human Rights & Social Entrepreneurship Development Center