Galagoda Thero asks for US$ 2,000 to visit Paris to meet lady friend

Tuesday, 02 April 2013 

Bodhu Bala Sena’s Ven. Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thero has sent a message to an illicit brewer and businessman friend to send him US$ 2,000 to make a visit to Paris.

The Thero is to visit Paris in April during summer to meet his lady friend in Paris and holiday with her. He is currently engaged in collecting monies for his great trip from illicit liquor brewers and casino businessmen.

Illicit liquor brewers and casino businessmen are now competing to provide funds for Bodhu Bala Sena to prevent any protest campaign that could arise against their businesses. Although the organization receives massive cash donations its bank account does not even have sufficient funds to print a poster since the senior members of the organization collects these monies for their personal use.

There is no account of the monies given to the organization by a French NGO and the Norwegian government

“Dayata Kirula” commissions and kickbacks

Tuesday, 02 April 2013 

Several roads that were developed for the Dayata Kirula exhibition in Ampara area are not upto standards. In Ampara Uhana main road near the air force camp in the Alikanda area road has been cracked and removed.

Further, Ampara D.S Senanayake Mawatha is also in a bad state, which was developed at a cost of Rs 200-300 million. At present roads along the Uva Development Bank and Pubudu Institute have been removed several concretes slabs and people in the areas facing enormous inconvenience.

It is said that with the conclusion of the Dayata Kirula exhibition roads that were developed are in a dilapidated condition, the reason being the government has given tenders for their henchmen at a higher amount when there were tenders called for lower cost. Due to these irregularities people in the area encountered with a lot of inconvenience. Most of the people in the area say that some have taken kick backs and commission from contractors when awarding tenders for them.

Help Me Find My Brother From Matale Mass Grave – Says A Brother

By Colombo Telegraph -April 2, 2013 |

The brother of state terror victim urged any national or international organisation to help identify his brother’s remains by DNA profiling the victims skeletal remains found in Matale.

Bandula Idamegama the brother of late Ananda Idamegama, then the leader of the inter-university students’ federation told the Colombo Telegraph; “He was a final year engineering student in the mid 80s when he was expelled from the Peradeniya University by the Udalagama Commission for his student activism as an idealistic youth. He was then the leader of the inter-university students’ federation and it was also rumoured that he had been a member of the JVP‘s then Central Committee.”

Bandula Idamegama

“Incidentally, Kumar Gunaratnam‘s brother Ranjitam Gunaratnam was a contemporary of my brother and he too was killed. Both Shantha Bandara and my brother had entered their respective universities, from Science College, Matale.” He said.

“As for my brother, my information is that the plain-clothed security personnel had picked him up at the Dambulla Pola, based on information extracted from the person he was to have met there, on that particular day. We know that they tortured and killed him. But our family expects accountability in this regard. My guess is that his remains too might be among those being unearthed now.”

“As Ananda’s brother I am keen to know the circumstances of his murder: who gave the order to disappear him and who carried it out, when and where. Was his corpse burned or just dumped in a mass grave? Our dearest wish now is to get Anandan’s remains back so we can give him a decent burial,” he said further.

Magistrate Chathurika de Silva told a court in the central town of Matale last Wednesday that tests carried out by archaeological and judicial medical officers show the skeletal remains found inside the premises of a government hospital dated back to between 1987 and 1990. During that period thousands of men and women suspected of having ties to the rebels disappeared after being arrested by security forces.

Bandula Idamegama said; “Ever since political independence was given to us by the British colonial rulers virtually on a platter, Lanka has been dabbling in Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinist politics. The taxpayer-maintained state apparatus, including the police and the armed forces too are still being utilized by the majority Sinhalese Buddhists for the said purpose, a la former communist countries led by the former USSR which, incidentally, is 15 independent republics today. Having said that, I reiterate that we – my mother, three sisters and I – do expect accountability and justice for my brother, Ananda Idamegama’s enforced disappearance. This we expect a citizens of our country – who did what to him and when and where?”

“Last year, C A Chandraprema, the political writer, wrote ‘Gota’s War’ eulogising Gotabaya Rajapakse’s contribution to the crushing of the northern insurgency, indirectly rubbishing claims that Sarath Fonseka, as Army Commander, was the principal architect of the military victory. But that book was written and published before the discovery of the mass graves at Matale. In that book, in the twenty-eighth chapter titled ‘The Second JVP Insurrection’, the author makes an unintended revelation. He writes on Page 173: “On 1 May 1989, with Colonel Wimalaratne being promoted to the rank of Brigadier, Gota was made the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion of the Gajaba Regiment…With this promotion, he was posted to Matale as the district coordinating officer tasked with bringing the JVP under control. The first Gajaba Battalion, which had been in Trincomalee for nearly one and a half years, was brought down to Matale. Lieutenants Shavendra Silva, Jagath Dias and Sumedha Perera were among his company commanders in Matale…(p 177) Gota remained the security coordinating officer of Matale until the end of the second JVP insurrection. In January 1990, he applied for three months leave and went to the USA to see his family.”

Govt. attempting to bury the truth, a special judiciary process is necessary – JVP

TUESDAY, 02 APRIL 2013 

The government is attempting to conceal the truth regarding the mass grave at Matale, which is the largest such graves found in the history of this country says the General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva and demands that a special judiciary process should be carried out to elicit the truth regarding the mass grave.

Speaking at a special media conference held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatta today (1st) Mr. Tilvin Silva said, "After Matale mass grave was first detected in November last year an investigation report was released on 17th March.  The judiciary and medical reports revealed that the skeletal remains found in the grave belonged to 86 – 89 period. Any doubt regarding the period the remains belonged to has been solved. The Magistrates Court has definitely stated the skeletal remains belonged to those who died during the 86 – 89 period.

We all know that there was a huge suppression during the 88 – 89 period. What has been unearthed is the outcome of that suppression. The government is following a very silent policy regarding this. The government attempted to sweep the whole episode under the carpet. The unearthing of the mass grave was an accident. It came to light when the ground was being prepared to construct a building for Matale Hospital. The government attempted to stop excavations and hush up the incident. However, excavations had to be continued due to a court order. We held a media conference and demanded that an investigation was necessary. Ministers and MPs of the government as well as the police spokesman attempted to show that skeletal remains were of people whose deaths had occurred long, long ago. The police spokesman said she remains were those killed in an earth slip in 1940s. However, this attempt failed as a coin belonging to 1960s was found there. The government once attempted to say the remains were of those who died in a smallpox epidemic. The government attempted to somehow or other to conceal facts. Matale grave is the largest mass grave found in the country. Excavations unearthed 154 skeletons and 81 skulls. Investigations revealed that the owners of the remains had been subjected to cruel, inhuman torture. Pieces of wire, cables and plastics have been found from the grave. Investigations also revealed that skulls had been cut with tools such as saws, the heads had been severed from bodies and limbs had been broken. Despite finding 154 skeletons, only 81 skulls were found. This indicates that some were murdered by severing the head. We all know that human heads were on display on roads during this period.

If all these 154 persons had been murdered, it is a very serious matter. However, the government doesn't take any action regarding this. The government likes to bury the whole episode. The government is worried regarding finding the mass grave. This government under Chandrika Bandaranayake shed crocodile tears regarding those killed during 88 – 89 period to get votes of their families. They excavated graves; formed mothers' associations; went on demonstrations. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was a Parliamentarian then complained to the Human Rights Commission. It was carried out against the UNP government to topple it and come to power.

Now they are in power. Mahinda Rajapaksa is the President of the country. If what existed in 1994 was humanitarianism, the government has a good opportunity now to show its humanitarianism. They have the presidency, the government and the judiciary with them.

Those who were murdered were patriots who loved this country. They fought against Indian invasion. The government that shed crocodile tears to come to power is following a silent policy now. The perpetrators should be punished.  The UNP was in power at that time. However, the politicians who were in charge of that area are in the present government now. This is why the government doesn't want to carry out further investigations regarding the matter. For, the UNP too is supporting the government at present. As such, the government is being grateful to the UNP. Most of the members of the UNP during that period are in the government now.

The District Coordinating officer in charge of the Army during this period was Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. This was said by the Deputy Minister of the government Nandimithra Ekanayake.  Also, C.A. Chandraprema, who wrote 'Gota's War', had clearly stated that Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was called to Matale in 1989 and the Army there was placed under him. It also states special operations were carried out in the area and officers Shavendra Silva and Jagath Dias served in Matale during this period. They should be responsible regarding the incident.

There should be a special investigation regarding these murders. We would pressurize the government in various ways until such investigation is carried out. On several occasions we demanded the government to reveal to the country the period the murders took place and how they were murdered. Now medical reports have reveled they belong to the 86 – 89 period and they were tortured before they were murdered. As such, the government should commence a special judiciary process. The UNP leaders of that period, the district secretaries, Grama sevakas and other administrative officials that served the area, officers in charge of security and the people from Matale should be invited to give evidence and help in the investigation. We would continue to pressurize the government until this process is begun.

We also will commence a special programme to collect details of those who disappeared during this period. We ask the people in Matale to give us all the details they know regarding this. During the past people like Dulles and Dilan spoke about those who disappeared and they shed tears. However, they have become completely silent now. They are like deaf, dumb and blind now. Those who sold the dead to come to power should have the courtesy to utter a word on behalf of them. I would like to make a special thanks to the mass media. The government could not sweep the matter under the carpet due to the vigilant of the media."

The Member of the Central Committee of the JVP Nalinda Jayatissa too was present.

Related news:

Report on Matale mass grave to court this week

Skeletal remains in Mass grave were that of persons tortured – Anura Dissanayake

ALRC wants Matale Mass grave probed by UN

The dead don’t lie…

Excavation at Matale mass grave concluded

The Army chief at Matale during 88/89 period was Gotabhaya – Nandimithra

Those responsible for 88-89 murders are in present government, hence, do not expect justice – JVP

Hold high level probe into Matale mass grave & take legal action against those responsible – JVP

More skeletal remains unearthed from Matale mass grave

2 weeks since Matale mass grave unearthed, reveal who were buried – JVP

Prof Gamlath passes away

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 April 2013, 21:57 GMT]
Veteran Professor of Sinhala, Dr Sucharitha Gamlath passed away at the age of 79 in Colombo on Saturday and the funeral took place on Monday. Prof Gamlath was righteously anti-Establishment throughout his career and for nearly 15 years, the governments in Colombo kept him unemployed, which he faced heroically without compromising on his principles and convictions. To the end he steadfastly stood for the Tamil right to self-determination in the island of Sri Lanka. He was the first Professor of Sinhala at the University of Jaffna, appointed in 1975 (then the Jaffna Campus of the University of Sri Lanka) and his penalisation by the JR Jayawardane government took place in 1980 while he was serving at the University of Jaffna. TamilNet pays tribute to the scholar of a rare genre and expresses condolences to bereaving family members, friends and comrades. 

Veteran Professor of Sinhala, Dr Sucharitha Gamlath (10.03.1934 - 30.03.2013), speaking in Colombo in October 2003 on the occasion of a Sinhala-Tamil cultural meet

In June 2004, Prof. Gamlath delivered the keynote speech in an event organised in Vavuniyaa to mark the launch of first Sinhala publications by the political wing of the LTTE. Puthuvai Raththinathurai and K.V. Balakumaran felicitated him at the event for his unwavering stand in supporting the Tamil self-determination.

• Joint Declaration calling for the end of the famine in Jaffna (English & Tamil)

He was the first among the signatories in July 2006, who called upon the government in Colombo to stop the war, especially the starvation tactic of waging the war, uphold the rights of Tamils and to return their homes and lands.

Prof Gamlath’s greatest academic contribution is a two-volume English–Sinhala dictionary. In his later days, along with his old friend the late Prof K. Sivathamby, he was working on a Sinhala–Tamil–English dictionary, which he completed but couldn’t get it published.

• Prof Gamlath's message to a book release in London in August 2012

Quite recently in August 2012, despite his health conditions, he sent a spirited message for the release of a book by Dr. Siva Thiagarajah in London on "Peoples and Cultures of Early Sri Lanka." In his letter, Prof Gamlath tracing the etymology of Demala in Sinhala to Dravida in Sanskrit may be controversial, but the letter shows his outlook of considering the formation of Sinhala and Tamil identities as a phenomenon of historical parallels in the island.

Prof Gamlath addressing the press on the Sinhala/Tamil literary meet named Sinhala-Tamil Kaliak-koodal in October 2003 in Colombo. To his left: Prof Sivathamby and organisers of the festival Mr. Ajith Parakum, Mr. Rohitha Basana and Mr. Jayathilaka Bandara. To his right: Mr. Dharmasiri Bandaranayaka [TamilNet Library Photo]

A biographical note on Prof Sucharita Gamlath follows:

Sucharitha Gamlath was born on the 10 of March 1934.

He read classical Indian languages and Sinhala language at the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya. He graduated with First Class Honours becoming the first in the Island and carried away the awards, The Rowland’s Gold Medal, The Jayanayake Prize and The Oriental Research Scholarship.

In the same year, he was appointed Assistant Lecturer in Sinhala of the same University. In 1966 he entered the University of London and studied Western and Indian Philosophy, Philosophical Psychology and Aesthetics. 

In 1969 he submitted a thesis titled 'A Philosophical Investigation into the Nature and Role of Emotion in Art" comparing Indian and Western aesthetic theories and was awarded the Ph.D degree in Philosophy by the University of London.

In 1970 he was appointed as a Lecturer of the University of Colombo and in 1971 he was promoted as Senior Lecturer. In 1975 he was appointed as Professor of Sinhala Language and Literature of the University of Sri Lanka and was posted to the Jaffna Campus. In 1975/76 he served in Jaffna as the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Head of the Departments of Philosophy, English and Sinhala and the Chief Student Counselor.

Being a Marxist since his student days, in the late 1970s he became a sympathizer of the Trotkyist group, Revolutionary Communist League - RCL (now Socialist Equality Party), which was led by the late Keerthi Balasooriya. Soon, he became one of the leading theoreticians of RCL and along with Keerthi Balasooriya, initiated a strong movement to widely popularize Marxist aesthetics theory. 

He was a pioneer in introducing the writings of Georgi Plekhanov, Leon Trotsky, André Breton, Walter Benjamin and Terry Eagleton on Marxist literary theory to Sinhala readership. He became the most popular opponent of the then dominant bourgeois idealist literary tradition of the Peradeniya School led by the late Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra. 

Despite being one of the most accomplished academic on Sinhala language as well as on English, Pali and Sanskrit, he was sacked from his university in 1980 by the JR Jayawardane regime due to his strong political stand and his participation in the general strike in 1980. He remained unemployed for almost 15 years without compromising his convictions, and turning down offers extended by foreign universities. Later in 1994, he was reinstated under the government of Chandrika Bandaranayake, but soon left his position voluntarily, frustrated by the level of academic and political degeneration in the university system. 

Since the beginning of the Tamil struggle for self-determination, Professor Gamlath has been an ardent defender of the separate state demand. He never vacillated or compromised his position until his death and remained distinctly outspoken in his support for self-determination of the Tamils. He emphasised that the only way to ensure a genuine solidarity between the Tamils and the Sinhalese oppressed is to steadfastly defend the Tamils' right to self-determination and form a separate state. 

He was the most outspoken academic who demythologised 'Mahavamsa' and continued to challenge the Sinhala readership to leave behind the 'Mahavamsa' mindset in order to form an alliance with the Tamil oppressed.

Poet and head of the cultural division of the LTTE, Puthuvai Rathinathurai, honouring Prof Sucharitha Gamlath by donning him with a golden shawl at a function in June 2004 at Vavuniyaa, where two books by K.V. Balakumaran were published in Sinhala (Vanniye sita linyuma and Handak nathiyunge hathawatha sakishe handa) [TamilNet Library Photo]
During the ceasefire, in October 2003, he became one of the leading intellectual supporters of the initiative in organising the biggest Sinhala-Tamil cultural festival in the recent history. He, along with Professor Karthigesu Sivathamby, voluntarily became spokespersons of the organizing committee led by the Hiru Group. When the event held in Colombo New Town Hall, he was attacked by the right-wing Sinhala Urumaya (now JHU) mobs, he stood with the organizers firmly defending the Tamil people came from the North, East and central highlands. 

His longtime friendship with Professor Sivathamby was renewed through the event, and both started working on a massive Sinhala - Tamil - English dictionary. Due to the sudden demise of Prof. Sivathamby in July 2011, Prof Gamalth took the burden of completing it, though he wasn't able to get it published before his death.

Prof Gamlath addressing the function in Vavuniyaa in June 2004 [TamilNet Library Photo]

In June 2004, Prof. Gamlath delivered the keynote speech in an event organised in Vavuniyaa to mark the launch of first Sinhala publications by the political wing of the LTTE. Puthuvai Raththinathurai and K.V.Balakumaran felicitated him at the event for his unwavering stand in supporting the Tamil self-determination.

In 2006, with the outbreak of the war, when the government blocked the food convoys to Jaffna, he took the lead to issue a public statement along with leading Sinhala progressives to condemn the policy of starving Tamil people into submission. 

He was one of the few people among the Sinhalese who had courage to openly characterise the war as 'Genocide against Tamils' from the very beginning. During 2006 – 2009, he openly wrote in Sinhala media, expressing his views that the ongoing war is a 'genocidal massacre- carried out under the blessings of the Western imperialist regimes. 

While being uncompromising in his views on the Tamil national liberation, he remained as the most erudite scholar on Sinhala language with unmatched sophistication. Amongst his numerous publications in Sinhala, one of the greatest contributions was his two volume English - Sinhala dictionary that superseded previous lexicographic works on that area.

He passed away during the early hours on the 30th of March 2013 in Colombo General Hospital, after a brief illness. The funeral took place in Colombo General Cemetery on Monday, 01 April.

Sucharitha Gamlath: the exodus of a colossus

-By Chandana Keerthi Bandara-BBC Sinhala service

Sucharitha Gamlath pioneered the introduction of Marxist literary criticism to the Sinhalese

The loss of Sri Lanka's leading literary authority Sucharitha Gamlath was grieved by intellectuals as an insurmountable void in art and culture as well as political philosophy.

Professor Gamlath who passed away at 80 was referred to as teacher, pundit, writer, critic, comrade and traitor, where he wore all these hats with equal ease.

“The land that we were born is a waste land in the absence of people like Sucharitha,” said Dr. Jude Lal Fernando of Trinity College in Dublin.

Disciplined by Marxism from his student days Professor Gamlath pioneered the introduction of Marxist literary criticism to Sri Lanka’s majority community, the Sinhalese.

His writings comprising many books and numerous articles enriched the Sinhala reader with knowledge from the east as well as the west.

His versatility both in classical and modern languages of the orient and the west enabled him to impart this knowledge in incomparable prose.

Gee Mini Aara

In a bid to bring literary appreciation to people of all walks of life, he contributed to BBC Sinhala service for over one and a half decades in a programme that appreciated the literary value of Sinhala lyrics.

he well received 'Gee Mini Aara' (River of Lyrical Gems) was later printed in three volumes.

His highly acclaimed achievement in serving both the Sinhala and English languages was the compiling of the most comprehensive Sinhala-English dictionary to date.

Editor of the Sinhala encyclopaedia KNO Dharmadasa has called it a 'mammoth task'.

"Sucharitha has introduced thousands of new words to the Sinhala lexicon," Professor Dharmadasa wrote in appreciation.

He was awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree by the University of London in 1966 for his thesis on a comparative research to oriental and western aesthetic theories.

The university was persuaded by leading western philosopher Karl Popper to relax entrance regulations in order to accommodate Sucharitha solely on the strength of his doctoral research.

Quest for harmony

Appointed to the Jaffna University where a majority of undergraduates were Tamil, he later served as its Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Head of the Departments of Philosophy, English and Sinhala as well as the Chief Student Counsellor.

'Lover of languages with a sharp and creative mind,' Tamil Poet Cheran

Tamil poet and Associate Professor at the University of Windsor, Dr Rudhramoorthy Cheran called him a 'colossus' who was a 'lover of languages with a sharp and creative mind'.

"For Sinhala - Tamil linguistic solidarity, Gamlath's contributions were immense," said Dr Cheran.

Professor Gamlath’s quest for harmony between the two nations did not stop at linguistic solidarity.

“You might find many Sinhala pundits in Sri Lanka, but you cannot find a Sinhala pundit like Prof Sucharitha Gamlath who stood for the Sinhala oppressed classes as well as for the right to self-determination of the Tamil nation,” said Dr Jude Lal Fernando.

Introducing Marxist literary theory to an academia steeped in the idealist school of thought led by leading academic on fine arts Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra had been an uphill task.

Sucharitha said that it was never accepted by those who did not want to break away from the mainstream of literary criticism.

“I was unable to survive for even a year in the university once this movement for a new analytical method was launched,” he said.

The ruling JR Jayewardene government sacked him in the late seventies.

Prof Sarachchandra recalling at a latter day that Prof Gamlath was once his student at the University of Peradeniya said, "Sucharitha was the disciple who surpassed the Guru".

Sinhala extremists

During the ceasefire between the Government of Sri Lanka and Tamil Tigers, Professor Gamlath visited the LTTE controlled Vanni to be honoured by Tamil academics and writers.

While playing a leading role in the Sinhala Tamil cultural festival organised by the Hiru Group in the capital during the same period, Professor Gamlath came under attack by organised Sinhala extremists who called him a 'traitor'.

Tamil critic and linguist MA Nuhuman says that only a few Tamils readers knew about his work.

Going against the grain of popular Sinhala majority support for Sri Lanka government's resurgence of the war against Tamil Tigers in 2006, he led a group of several leading artistes calling to provide unhindered access to food and medicine for Tamil civilians in the north.

The appeal highlighted that the closing of the main highway to the Jaffna peninsula created an enormous humanitarian crisis.

Trilingual dictionary

In 2008 Sucharitha Gamlath was felicitated in an event organised by workers, peasants, fisher folk and teachers.

Prof Gamlath was working on a trilingual dictionary that he started with the late Prof Sivathamby

"It is the greatest honour to be appreciated by oppressed Tamils as well as the oppressed underclass," Professor Gamlath told the gathering in Colombo.

Professor Nuhuman said, "Sucharitha came under constant attack by Sinhala supremacists since he incessantly wrote and spoke on behalf of the self determination of Tamils".

However, a leftist leader called Sucharitha Gamlath 'a hero for the Sinhalese'.

“While unwaveringly standing for the rights of the Tamils, Comrade Sucharitha utilised his massive wealth of knowledge to enrich the Sinhala public with the wisdom of lands beyond their reach,” General Secretary of the Nava Sama Samaja Party Dr Vickramabahu Karunaratna told the hundreds who gathered at the main cemetery in the capital on Monday to pay their last respects.

Professor Gamlath was working during his final years on an English-Sinhala-Tamil trilingual dictionary that he initiated with the late Professor Karthigesu Sivathamby.

Although Sucharitha Gamlath finalised the edition months before his demise, he was unable to raise the necessary funds to publish the finished work.

Pakistani Navy War College delegation visit Sri Lanka

(Lanka-e-News-01.April.2013, 10.00PM) A group of officers from Pakistan Navy War College visited Sri Lanka recently as part of their Foreign Study Tour Programme. The delegation led by Commodore Sajid Mahmood, comprised of Officers from Pakistan Armed Forces and four allied officers from Nigeria, China and Turkey. During their stay in Sri Lanka the delegation called on Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal WDRMJ Goonetileke, Commander of Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Jayanath Collombage, High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka H.E. Maj Gen (R) Qasim Qureshi. The visiting delegation also visited Trincomalee and Sigiriya beside visiting various Naval establishments and harbour. SRI LANKA: A new Sinhala monthly publication - Sri Lankave Manave Himicam - an E-publication This issue covers many current issues relating to human rights in Sri Lanka such as the resolution before the United Nations for Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka and the opportunities that this resolution opens up for resolving some of the troubling problems in the country, the mass grave found in Matale and its implications; the long-standing problem of the killing of children in Sri Lanka; the issue of the impeachment of the Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayke and the future of the independence of the judiciary; political killings and the responsibilities of the government; the 1978 Constitution and its impact on today's politics and several other issues currently being discussed among Sri Lankans. This issue also carries several poems and dialogues and also the translation of a short story by Tolstoy, What Men Live By. The issue, which consists of 50 pages, has been colorfully produced and is reader-friendly. The issue may be seen here. Compiled in April 2013 by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), 50 pages. Language: Sinhalese Attempt to set up bar association supportive of the Rajapaksas Tuesday, 02 April 2013 03: A group of lawyers affiliated to the President has asked him to set up a “Rajapaksa Bar Association” since the actions of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka have dealt sever blows to the government, sources from Temple Trees said. Although attempts were made to take control of the BASL at its recent election for office bearers, the government supporters experienced a humiliating defeat. The proposal to set up a Rajapaksa Bar Association first came to light following the BASL elections. Meanwhile, the President has ordered his staff to take note of the state institution heads and board members who are lawyers and the number of them who had worked in support of the Chief Justice’s impeachment. The President has asked that lawyers who had not supported the impeachment motion be sacked from their posts in state institutions. Sources from Temple Trees added that the President has also asked that these lawyers be asked to join a lawyers association that would be converted into a Rajapaksa Bar Association.

SRI LANKA: An innocent man died after being illegally arrested and tortured by the Polpithigama Police

April 2, 2013

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Vidana Mahaduralage Somarathne, a farmer by possession, was illegally arrested, detained and severely tortured by the four police officers attached to the Polpithigama Police on 20 March 2013 at Ma Eliya Junction.

Mr. Vidana started screaming in pain in the early morning of 21 March. He was taken to the Polpithigama District Hospital. The on duty doctors admitted him to the Intensive Care Unit. He passed away at around 1 pm on 21 March. Despite being aware that the victim had been severely tortured the Judicial Medical Officer claimed that the cause of Mr. Vinda's death was a heart attack. His son Mr. Anuradha campaigned vigorously for a second port mortem examination which was eventually granted by a Magistrate but the results have not yet been made public. The victim's relatives made petitions to the police authorities and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka seeking remedies. In reality, no action has been taken by these officers.

This case is yet another illustration of the exceptional collapse of the rule of law in the country and the fact that the police will do everything in their power to cover up a death by custodial torture.

CASE NARRATIVE:

Mr. Vidana Mahaduralage Somarathne (58) of No461/1, Bunt Junction, Maeliya, Polpithigama in the Kurunegalle District was illegally arrested, detained and severely tortured by the four police officers attached to the Polpithigama Police on 20 March 2013 at Ma Eliya Junction.

According to Mr. Vidana Mahadurayalage Anuradha Champika Somarathne, the son of the deceased Mr. V.M. Somarathne succumbed to the injuries he suffered due to the severe torture he was forced to endure while he was in the custody of the Polpithigama police on 21 March 2013. Mr. Somarathne was married and a farmer by profession. Four uniformed police officers alighted from the two motor bikes and illegally arrested Somarathne at around 7 pm. The arrest was witnessed by several people on the side of the Maeliya junction.

Mr. Jayaweera Aponsu who was one of the witnesses stated that Somarathne, was beaten at the time of the arrest. According Mr. Aponsu Somarathne was beaten about the back and his hip with a pole despite the fact that he offered no resistance. Somarathne started pleading loudly to the witnesses, asking that they rescue him. Then the officers dragged and pulled Somarathne towards one of the motor bike took him to the Polpithigama Police Station. Then Mr. Aponsu informed Somarathne's son, Anurudha and told him as to how his father had been beaten. Immediately upon hearing the news Anuradha went to the police station where he found his father lying on the floor of a cell. He went to the reserve officer and asked why his father had been arrested and the officer stated that they arrested him on suspicion of the possession of liquor without a legally valid license. Somarathne was released on police bail at midnight and his son took him home.

The following day, 21 March 2013 while Anuradha left to go to his work place early in the morning at around 8.30 am, one of his friends, Samantha, called and told him that his father's condition had worsened. He immediately returned home and he rushed his father to the hospital by three-wheeler. While they were on the way to the hospital Somarathna screamed in pain while holding his ribs. When Anuradha asked what was wrong his father told him that he had been tortured in police custody?

Somarathna revealed that he was tortured by four police officers including, Police Sergeants Sumith, Amarasuriya and another one. Then Anuradha told his father to inform the doctor of this as well. Mr. Vidana Mahaduralage Somarathna was admitted to the emergency ward of Polpithigama District Hospital and as his condition continued to worsen he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. At that time Somarathne told his son that the police officers would try to cover up the incident and that he should at least complain to Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL).

After Somarathne was transferred to the ICU Anuradha went at home at around 11 am. When he returned to the hospital at around 1.30 pm he was informed that his father had died. Anuradha approached the District Medical Officer (DMO) who told him that they had done everything possible to save his father's life. However, when Anuradha asked for the cause of death the DMO replied that he could not ascertain the direct reason and if he wanted to he could ask for a post mortem and a proper JMO inquiry.

Anuradha went to the Polpithigama Police Station and made a complaint asking for a post mortem mentioning his father's statement about police torture before he died but the police officer refused to include it in the report. One hour later Police Office Janaka called and informed them to go to the Polpithigama District Hospital as the Magistrate will come for the inquiry. At that time he made a statement before the Magistrate about the police torture his father told him about before he died. At that time the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the area told him that as the Polpithigama mortuary did not have a fridge the body would have to be transferred to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital. After discussions with the DMO, the ASP gave permission and the body was transferred to the Kurunegala Hospital under police security.

The following day, 22 March, at around 9.00 o'clock Anuradha returned to the Kurunegala Hospital and at that time there were four police officers from the Nikaweratiya Police Station for the inquiry. Then the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) asked for the reports of the Polpithigama Hospital as without those he cannot start the inquiry. However, before checking those reports he started the inquiry and told Anuradha to go to his office where he told the victim's son that the cause of death was a heart attack. Anuradha refused to accept that and told the doctor what his father had told him to about police torture. He also said that he himself had witnessed the pain and anguish his father had been in. Then the JMO said that they would have to remove some skin of the area around the victim's ribs and examine it again. After 20 minutes later the JMO called Anuradha and his uncle and showed them the area under the right hand shoulder where there were 3 marks on the ribs. He admitted that Somarathna had been assaulted but could not give that as the cause of death. After that the police officer who came from the Nikaweratiya Police Station recorded a statement from Anuradha again. In that statement Anuradha refused to accept the JMO's statement that his father had died of a heart attack and again mentioned the assault by the officers of the Polpithigama Police Station.

Moreover, when Somarathna's body was embalmed the person doing the job also noticed that there were two broken ribs. Anuradha went and met ASP of the Mahawa area at around 5 pm and made a complained about the suspicious death of his father. The ASP told him that there was no point in complaining about the JMO's inquiry as they will normally never change their reports. He told Anuradha to go and complete the funeral arrangements.

Refusing to give up Anuradha met the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police of Kurunegala and asked for another JMO inquiry. The DIG explained that he could ask for another inquiry from Colombo by the courts. There were several eye witnesses and some of them gave their statement as well.

Anuradha states that his father was illegally arrested and brutally assaulted and that due to this torture his father died.

The relatives complained to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), National Police Commission (NPC), Attorney General (AG) and Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) on 25 of March, 2013 regarding the death by custodial torture of Somarathna and requested impartial and independent inquiry in to the incident. But until now any of these authorities have taken any action on their complaints.

The case on the death inquest is still going on before the Magistrate of Mahawa regarding the killing of Somarathne. The case has been registered with the reference of No: B/200/2013.

When on 27 March case was called before the Magistrate's Court, the lawyer representing the relatives of the deceased, Vipula Chandarsekara, requested the Magistrate to exhume the body and called for a fresh JMO's report by under the senior JMO. The request was upheld by the Magistrate and he ordered to conduct the evidence on 3 April after exhumation. Further the Magistrate ordered the Police to guard the burial site until the body was exhumed.

Anuradha and his relatives appeal for justice.

SUGGESTED ACTION: 
Please send a letter to the authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case and requesting an immediate investigation into the allegations of illegal arrest, illegal detention and torture which led to the death of an innocent man by the police perpetrators. Please ask for the prosecution of those proven to be responsible under the criminal law of the country for misusing powers of a state. The officers involved must also be subjected to internal investigations for the breach of the department orders as issued by the police department. Further, please also request the NPC and the IGP to have a special investigation into the malpractices of the police officers for abusing the state officers' powers.

Please note that the AHRC is also writing a separate letter to the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment on this regard.

To support this appeal, please click here: