Dear Friends, On 24 March 2007 the editor of the Satana News Paper Senaka Ekanayake was illegally arrested by the Kalpitiya police and tortured. Senaka Ekanayake was in Kalpitiya on a fact finding mission for his paper. He was arrested by OIC of the Kalpitiya Police Station Rangwala-arachchi and other officers whowereallegedly under the influence of liquor.
We are informed that Senaka Ekanayaka was taken to the Kalpitiya Police Station where all his valuables including his national identity card, media pass, passport, Fuji camera, Panasonic digital camera, Sony cassette recorder, 2 CDs, his books,. wristwatch, a gemstone worth Rs sixteen thousand, and money to the value of Rs. six thousand two hundred and eighty was confiscated.
He was then handcuffed to a cell-bar and assaulted mercilessly with a z-lon pipe all over his body. Senaka Ekanayaka names those responsible for this torture as OIC Lakshman Rangwana-arachchi, Sub Inspector Arawin, P.C. Sunil (No. 12601),), P.C. Dhammika (33446), Sergeant Indunil (24011) those amongst others whose names he does not know.
While torturing he was scolded in foul language and told that with their pens they can make him a criminal within minutes. They also boasted that they can even shoot him and get away with it. This torture he says lasted for about one hour. After that the handcuffs were removed and he was put into the police cell after being kicked several times, severely wounding his right leg.
We are informed that on the same night at about 10.00 p.m. he was again tortured. Some police officers poured Kasippu – illicit brew on his head and OIC Rangwana-arachchi forcibly made him swallow 8-9 mouthfuls of the liquid. Then he was stripped and photographed in the nude, while OIC Rangwana- arachchi made fun of him saying that tomorrows news paper will carry the headline that a senior media person drunken and naked dances at the Kalpitiya police station. He was again assaulted with the z-lon pipe by about 6 officers inside the cell. After this the officers left one of them throwing his underclothes into the cell, which he put on with the greatest difficulty.
Senaka Ekanayake says that his whole body was hurting, he was bleeding from his cheeks and nose and three of his teeth on the upper gum were broken.
We are informed that at about 12.00 midnight when he was lying on the cement bench in the cell, again the police officers came and squirted cold water on him from a horse. This he says lasted for about ½ a hour and all the while he was scolded in filthy language.
We are informed that on the 25th March at about 6.00 am, his trouser were given back to him and S.I. Arawin and P.C. Indunil told that he would be given police bail if he signed some documents. When Senaka Ekanayake refused SI Arawin took a pistol and kept on his head threatening to kill him if he did not comply. He then requested to read the statement. This was also denied and he was given no option but to sign the unread statement after which he was again put in the police cell. Later he was given some bread for breakfast but he was not in a position to eat it and for that too he was scolded. Senaka Ekanayake says his whole body was aching and he felt lifeless. At about 3.00 p.m. he was given his shirt and told to wear his shoes and his bag was returned to him with only his books. All other documents and valuable items indicated above were missing including his national identity card. When he had queried regarding this, he was told that those items would be confiscated by the State. He had only a balance of Rs 702.
We are informed that after that he was taken to a medical doctor who refused to examine him. Then he was produced before the acting magistrate Puttlam – Iqbal Attorney-at-law and obtained a detention order under the Emergency Regulations. Senaka Ekanayake says that all attempts to talk to the acting magistrate were foiled by a police officer who held him tightly.
On 25th March at about 8.00 p.m. he was taken to the detention centre in Puttalam. On the 26th he was transferred to a prison in Negombo where he was warded in the prison hospital for treatment of the injuries sustained in the torture. On the 3rd of April he was taken to Puttalam and produced before the acting magistrate Ms. Anusha Fernando. (BR 37/07/K). The police objected to bail and he was re-remanded and the case fixed for 23rd April. The case was called many times thereafter and refixed. It was only on 4th Jan 2008 a Provincial Council member from Kalpitiya signed for his bail and he was released.
Senaka Ekanayake says that while he was in prison, the police had gone to his hostel and searched his room and gone through his diary from which they had found a telephone number of a Tamil friend living in Jaffna and have made inquiries about this friend trying to make out that he was connected with terrorists activities.
Senaka Ekanayake says that complaints to the Human Rights Commission made on 21.11.2007 and 07.01.2008 and has been recorded as HRC/34/08. However no inquiry regarding this incident has commenced top date.
Please join us to stand by the rights of Senaka Ekanayake whose fundamental rights have been grossly abused. You could help by writing to the authorities mentioned below asking them:
1. To make inquiries into the incident and take due legal and disciplinary action against OIC Kalpitiya police station Rangwana-arachchi and other officers of the Kalpitiya police who arrested him tortured him at the Kalpitiya police station.
2. To provide Senaka Ekanayake with security against the threats of OIC Rangwana-arachchi who is saying that he will fabricate charges and send him to remand.
3. To provide Senaka Ekanayake with security in the light of the death threats received from OIC Rangwana-arachchi and others and his fear that he will be abducted.
Janasansadaya
Peoples Forum
81/2, Arthur V. Dias Mawatha, Panadura
Tel 038 2235191
05.06.2008
You may contact -
1.Mr. Victor Perera, Inspector General of Police (IGP) ,New Secretariat, Colombo 1,
Fax: +94 11 2 440440/327877; E-mail: igp@police.lkInspector General of Police, Police Head Quarters, Colombo 1.
2. Mr. C.R. De Silva, Attorney General, Attorney General’s Department, Colombo 12, Sri Lanka . Fax: +94 11 2 436421
3. Secretary, National Police Commission, 3rd Floor, Rotunda Towers , 109 Galle Road
Colombo 03, Sri Lanka . Tel: +94 11 2 395310, Fax: +94 11 2 395867, E-mail: npcgen@sltnet.lk or polcom@sltnet.lk
4. Secretary, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, No. 36, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8
Sri Lanka. Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806, Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 / 696 470, E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk
