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HRCSL asks IGP for custodial deaths report

18 May 2021

By Pamodi Waravita   The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has requested Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne for a report on the investigations carried out into the deaths of underworld figures Mabulage Dineth Melan Mabula alias “Urujuwa” and Dharmakeerthi Tharaka Perera Wijesekera alias “Kosgoda Tharaka” while in Police custody last week. “Following complaints received by the HRCSL regarding the deaths of Mabula and Wijesekera, we request a report on the investigations the Police Department has carried out in this regard, before 30 May,” the letter by the HRCSL to IGP Wickramaratne stated. The HRCSL has further noted that the protection of suspects in Police custody is the responsibility of the Police, and that the recent reports of suspects dying in custody could cause distrust of the law in the public. Meanwhile, Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) Chairman Attorney Senaka Perera told The Morning yesterday (18) that they hope to write to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa regarding the matter as well. On 17 May, the CPRP lodged a complaint with the National Police Commission (NPC) against IGP Wickramaratne for his alleged dereliction of duty, which they claim ultimately led to the death of Wijesekera. A statement by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) last week revealed that the organisation had informed the IGP on 12 May of the alleged threats Wijesekera faced. Wijesekera’s Attorney had also informed the IGP of his apprehensions regarding his client’s safety and security, prior to the latter’s death.  BASL President Saliya Pieris PC had told The Sunday Morning that they would initiate legal action regarding the suspected extrajudicial killings of two underworld figures within a mere two days of each other last week. On 11 May, Mabula was allegedly killed while in Police custody. On both occasions, Police Media Spokesman Deputy Inspector General of Police Ajith Rohana told the media that incidents that occurred while the suspects had been taken for special Police operations had led to their deaths. In a similar incident in October last year, Samarasinghe Arachchige Madush Lakshitha alias “Makandure Madush” was killed while in Police custody. The Police at the time claimed that the victim was killed in the crossfire between the Police and suspected gang members, as the latter group had attempted to allegedly release him from Police custody. Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal had on 17 May ordered the authorities to not move Gampola Vidanage Samantha Kumara alias “Wela Suda” from the Boossa Prison to any other location until 24 May, following a writ application filed by his mother.

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