SRI LANKA: Yet another man is killed by the police

June 27, 2012
ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION-URGENT APPEAL PROGRAMME 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that on 20 May 2012, M.D. Kalum Priyanath, a disabled labourer, went to a local temple to help a monk run an errand. At 12pm, as he was returning home, Mr. Priyanath was arrested by the police and taken to Welikanda Police Station. According to police officers, Mr. Priyanath was in possession of marijuana, and was found dead in his jail cell at 1pm as the result of a head injury caused by a fall. Mr. Priyanath’s relatives believe that Mr. Priyanath was severely tortured and killed by the police. Indeed, the report of a Judicial Medical Officer state that Mr. Priyanath’s body sustained bruises, swelling and severe bleeding to the back of his head. Despite the fact that the family has filed complaints with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Assistanct Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the Polonnaruwa and to the National Police Commission (NPC,) each of these organizations have failed to initiate credible, impartial investigations into Mr. Priyanath’s death. This case is yet another illustration of the exceptional collapse of the rule of law in Sri Lanka.

CASE NARRATIVE: Read More…