Colombo, October 10, 2025 — 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 (FR) 259/2016, found that the petitioner was subjected to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, in violation of Article 11 of the Constitution. The Court further determined that his rights to equality before the law and due procedure of arrest under Articles 12(1) and 13(1) had also been infringed.
According to the case, Mr. Sunil was assaulted by police officers both inside his bus and later at the Kottawa Police Station. Despite suffering visible injuries, he was not promptly produced before a Judicial Medical Officer (JMO). The Court noted discrepancies between two medical reports but ultimately accepted the second report and eyewitness statements, confirming that the petitioner had been brutally assaulted.
Justice Wijesundera emphasized that such conduct by law enforcement officials cannot be tolerated in a democratic society, underlining that those directly responsible for acts of torture must be held personally accountable.
This ruling serves as a strong reminder that police accountability and respect for fundamental rights remain essential pillars of the rule of law in Sri Lanka.
Read the full judgment here: sc_fr_259_2016[1]