Colombo, October 22, 2025 — In a landmark ruling that reinforces the protection of fundamental rights, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has found three officers of the Alawwa Police guilty of violating the constitutional rights of journalist Thilina Rajapaksa through verbal abuse, assault, and unlawful detention. Rajapaksa, an announcer and producer at a private […]
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
Supreme Court Orders Rs. 1 Million Compensation for Victim of Police Torture Read More »
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 »
The Sri Lanka Collective Against Torture (SLCAT) has called on the President to take immediate action against police officers found by the Supreme Court to have violated fundamental rights, including those who tortured a minor. In a letter to the President, timed to coincide with World Children’s Day, the SLCAT specifically demanded the immediate dismissal
SLCAT Urges President to Dismiss Police Officers Found Guilty of Torture Read More »
The case of Mohamed Suhail, a 21 year old aviation student, highlights the arbitrary and unjust application of Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Arrested in October 2024, Suhail was detained for nine months, with his case showcasing the deeply flawed nature of the PTA and its disproportionate use against individuals, particularly minorities, who
The situation faced by prison inmates has long been a subject of discussion in society, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka conducted an in-depth study on this issue over approximately two years, releasing a major report in 2022. This report has been submitted to the government, with suggestions that its recommendations be implemented.
The Invisible Struggle: Overcrowding and Abuses in Sri Lanka’s Prisons Read More »
On March 7, 2008, a 14 year old school student, Buddhi Ewantha Gunasekara of Eranawila, Mitiyagoda, was arrested by officers of the Mitiyagoda Police Crime Branch, Sub-Inspector Saman Palitha Athukorala and Civil Guard Lalith de Zoysa, over an alleged theft of money from a neighboring house. Following his arrest, Buddhi was subjected to brutal torture
Justice After 17 Years: Mitiyagoda Police Torture Case Ends With Convictions Read More »
The Right to Life Human Rights Center, which has been actively working for over two decades to protect human rights and combat torture in Sri Lanka, has once again demonstrated the power of public engagement and social media in raising awareness. A video posted by the organization on its official Facebook page on Monday, July
25-year struggle for justice in the Lasantha Jagath Kumara case reveals systemic failings A public discussion titled “Delays in Sri Lanka’s Justice System and the Functioning of Anti-Torture Mechanisms” was held on July 15, 2015, at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute in Colombo, drawing attention to longstanding issues within Sri Lanka’s criminal justice system. The event
Public Dialogue Highlights Delays in Justice and Anti-Torture Mechanisms in Sri Lanka Read More »
