ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION-URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM

Dear Friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding Mr. Warnasooriya Patabandige Lakshan (21), permanent resident of the Trincomalee District. On 15 June 2017, Lakshan was illegally arrested by Police of the Kantale Police Division. He was not given any reason for his arrest. After detaining him at the Police Station, he was accused of supporting several young men escaping police arrest. The victim was unaware of the identity of the young men. He stated that the Police acted arbitrary, illegally and violated the Law.

Case Narrative:

The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information about Mr. Warnasooriya Patabandige Lakshan, of No: 17/13, Trincomalee Road, Kantale in the Trincomalee District. Lakshan completed his high school education and was living at home while looking for a job.

On 15 June 2017 at 6 p.m., while Lakshan was at home with his mother, 4 uniformed Police Officers came to his home and asked him to come outside. They then dragged him by his hands into a vehicle parked on the road and brought him to the Kantale Police Station. He questioned the Officers as to the reason of his arrest. The officers accused him of supporting three of his friends to escape arrest and to leave the village. Lakshan vehemently denied the accusation and pleaded for his release. He accepted the fact that he knew the persons by their names by denied the accusation that he helped him to escape the arrest.

On the Next day, 16 June, Lakshan was produced before the Kantale Magistrate and released on bail. Lakshan still did not know the reason for his arrest and was unaware of the reason for producing him before the Courts. Lakshan explained that he did not even know the names of the wanted persons.

Lakshan states that he was illegally arrested, detained in a cell at the Kantale Police Station and had his fundamental rights, guaranteed to him by the Constitution, violated.

Suggested Action:

Please send letters to the Authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case. Request an immediate investigation into the allegations of illegal arrest by the Police. Prosecute those proved to be responsible under the Law for misusing the powers of the State. The officers involved must be subject to an internal investigation for breach of Police Departmental Orders. Please request the National Police Commission (NPC) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to open a special investigation into the malpractices of Police Officers who abuse their powers.

To support this case, please click here:

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear _______

SRI LANKA: Young man illegally arrested by Kantale Police

Name of Victim: Mr. Warnasooriya Patabandige Lakshan (21), of No: 17/13, Trincomalee Road, Kantale in the Trincomalee District

Alleged perpetrators: Four Police Officers attached to the Kantale Police Station

Date of incident: 15 June 2017

Place of incident: Kantale Police Division

According to information I have received the information about the case of Mr. Warnasooriya Patabandige Lakshan, of No: 17/13, Trincomalee Road, Kantale in the Trincomalee District. Lakshan completed his high school education and was living at home while looking for a job.

On 15 June 2017 at 6 p.m., while Lakshan was at home with his mother, 4 uniformed Police Officers came to his home and asked him to come outside. They then dragged him by his hands into a vehicle parked on the road and brought him to the Kantale Police Station. He questioned the Officers as to the reason of his arrest. The officers accused him of supporting three of his friends to escape arrest and to leave the village. Lakshan vehemently denied the accusation and pleaded for his release. He accepted the fact that he knew the persons by their names by denied the accusation that he helped him to escape the arrest.

On the Next day, 16 June, Lakshan was produced before the Kantale Magistrate and released on bail. Lakshan still did not know the reason for his arrest and was unaware of the reason for producing him before the Courts. Lakshan explained that he did not even know the names of the wanted persons.

Lakshan states that he was illegally arrested, detained in a cell at the Kantale Police Station and had his fundamental rights, guaranteed to him by the Constitution, violated.

I request the intervention of your good offices. Ensure that the Authorities listed below open an immediate investigation into the allegations of violations of the fundamental rights of the victim by Officers of the Sri Lanka Police Department. The Officers involved should also be subject to internal investigations for breach of Police Departmental Orders.

Yours sincerely,

———————
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. Pujith Jayasundara
   Inspector General of Police
   New Secretariat
   Colombo 1
   SRI LANKA
   Fax: +94 11 2 440440 / 327877
   E-mail: igp@police.lk
2. Mr. Jayantha Jayasooriya PC
   Attorney General
   Attorney General’s Department
   Colombo 12
   SRI LANKA
   Fax: +94 11 2 436421
   E-mail: ag@attorneygeneral.gov.lk
3. Secretary
   National Police Commission
   3rd Floor, Rotunda Towers
   109 Galle Road
   Colombo 03
   SRI LANKA
   Tel: +94 11 2 395310
   Fax: +94 11 2 395867
   E-mail: npcgen@sltnet.lkor polcom@sltnet.lk
4. Secretary
   Human Rights Commission
   No. 36, Kynsey Road
   Colombo 8
   SRI LANKA
   Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806
   Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 / 696 470
   E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Program
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)

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