Facebook icon
Twitter icon
e-mail icon

Sri Lankan police brutally assaults civilian in Ratnapura

Video footage from The Morning Lk

Following the brutal assault of a civilian by a Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) in Ratnapura, Sri Lankan police have launched an investigation stating that such incidents would seriously damage the reputation of the police department.

The investigation follows the wide circulation of footage showing the SDIG kicking and beating the civilian while the civilian begs to stop the attack.

When questioned on whether the SDIG, Ranmal Kodituwakku, was under the influence of alcohol, Sri Lankan police refused to confirm but said that they would investigate the matter.

The increased incidents of police brutality and arbitrary detentions under Sri Lanka's draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act follow a damning report but Human Rights Watch (HRW) documenting these abuses. In their report, HRW extensively details the abuses that have occurred during the pandemic which include accounts of torture, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings. HRW has urged international partners to cease engagement with the "abusive Sri Lankan law enforcement agencies until there is demonstrated the political will to address the situation".

Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at HRW, added that “Sri Lanka’s police seem intent on building on their past record of serious abuses, instead of cleaning up their act.” 

Last week public security minister, Sarath Weerasekera, announced that 'human rights charges' levelled against police officers in active duty would be dropped if charge sheets against them are not completed within a six-month time frame.
Read more here.
 

We need your support

Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.

Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view

We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.

For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.