A Chinese woman who came forward as a victim of gang rape that was reportedly led by a Sri Lankan Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) politician is still awaiting justice, more than 10 months after the assault.
So far, the woman has filed multiple complaints including with the Asian Human Rights Commission and the United Nations Human Rights Council. Her case has been heard four times at the Galle Magistrate's Court, with a further hearing scheduled for January 22.
Meanwhile, the alleged perpetrators, who the victim identified as former Southern Provincial Councillor Pushpakumara, more commonly known as ‘Raththaran’, and his driver continue to walk free.
The assault happened on February 24, 2019, said the victim, who has since left the island.
In her efforts to find justice for the assault she also recently wrote a letter to Sri Lanka’s president Gotabaya Rajapaksa expressing the emotional and physical pain she was in. She had sent registered post copies to both the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses (NAPVCW) as well as the Chinese Embassy in Colombo. She is yet to receive any form of acknowledgment from the authorities.
“Raththaran and his brothers told me that he could influence the police with his power, I have asked Raththaran’s cousin Asintha Kaushalya who is also a member of southern province to help me, but he also harassed and intimidated me,” she told Colombo Telegraph.
“It is not only me who has suffered from sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and cheating. I know of two other Chinese female friends who when they made similar complaints were discouraged by the Police ... I was also told sexual bribery by politicians is very common in Sri Lanka,” she added.
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