SRI LANKA: Victims of rape continuously denied justice now live in fear
June 13, 2012
ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION-URGENT APPEAL PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-100-2012
13 June 2012
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SRI LANKA: Victims of rape continuously denied justice now live in fear
13 June 2012
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SRI LANKA: Victims of rape continuously denied justice now live in fear
ISSUES: Rape; violence against women; fair trail; witness protection; impunity; rule of law
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Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Ms. Sumanthika (31) and Prasanthi (19) of Ukuwela, Matale are sisters and lived with their parents at Matale (their names have been changed for security reasons). The two girls studied at a prestigious national school in Matale. Sumanthika was kidnapped and raped by her employer, the owner of Nataya Travel Air and Nataya Manpower company, Mangala Atampola. Sumanthika subsequently found that he had also raped her sister Prasanthi and forced her to have an abortion. The two victims have filed cases against Atampola and they are currently ongoing. However, their lives are at risk as he has considerable influence over the local law enforcement agencies.
CASE NARRATIVE:
Ms. Sumanthika (31) and Prasanthi (19) of Ukuwela, Matale are sisters and live with their parents at Matale (their names have been changed for security reasons). Their father was employed at the Lanka Porcelain as the supply manager at Matale. The two girls studied at a prestigious national school in Matale.
After her university entrance exam, Sumanthika, the eldest of the two sisters, followed a ticketing course in Kandy and then worked at Ceylinco travels in Colombo and Kurunegala for three years from 2000-2004.In 2005 January she joined the Nataya Travel Air and Nataya Manpower company belonging to Mangala Atampola. Sumanthika worked as a ticketing officer and then as the manager of the Nataya Travel air company. During the time of her service Sumanthika noticed that several people came to the office and complained against Mr Atampola for fraudulent transactions and she was further made to understand that there were court cases against him. For these reasons Sumanthika decided to leave the company given him notice in writing. However Mr Atampoa wanted her to continue until he recruited someone else. He withheld her identification documents in the attempt to keep her.
