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HARASSMENT AGAINST
PODIKUMARIHAMI AND HER FAMILY
BY THE MAHIYANGANA POLICE
Image: Podikumarihami.
07/09/2018
In the most recent incident, on 15th August 2017, the Mahiyangana police
attempted to arrest Podikumarihami from her residence and when she refused
on account of a women officer not being present, they beat her and tried to
force her into the vehicle. The police also severely beat her son-in-law, Asanka
Dilshan who rushed to her aid. They threatened that they would find drugs at
Dilshan’s house before the end of the day.
On 17th August 2017, at around 02.30 pm, a team of police officers entered
Podikumarihami’s compound and attempted to arrest her daughter (Chamila
Malkanthi). When she objected to the arrest, the Officer in Charge (OIC) of
the Mahiyangana Police slapped Podikumarihami to the ground and
repeatedly kicked her in the stomach, chest and arms with his boots. When
she knelt before him and begged not to arrest her daughter on false charges,
the OIC kicked her in the back and two officers Senadheera and Wimalasena
caught her by the hair and flung her head against the wall. The police
threatened to shoot Podikumarihami if she complained about the attack. On
20thAugust 2017, Podikumarihami was summoned to the Mahiyangana Police
Station and warned not to pursue any complaints against the police.
Despite the measures by the SIU and the AG and the support of lawyers and
civil society activists in the area, the Mahiyanaga police continue their
campaign of harassment and threats against Podikumarihamy, pressuring her
to withdraw all complaints against the police. The actions of the Sri Lanka
Police have compromised the safety of Podikumarihamy and her family,
violated their right peace, security and dignity, impact her son’s education and
compromised her ability to earn a livelihood and support her family.
We call on the Sri Lankan State to ensure effective protection and redress for
Podikumarihami and accountability for those responsible by;
Ensure the protection of Podikumarihami and her family, and provide
guarantees against non-recurrence of reprisals and attacks by any
member of the police force or their associates;
Call on the Attorney General to review the evidence and charges against
Podikumarihami and her family members, and withdraw all charges
based on fabricated/planted evidence;
Ensuring a credible and effective inquiry by the SIU into the incident on
17th August 2017 and providing Podikimarihami with clear information
about its progress/outcome
Calling on the Attorney General of Sri Lanka to frame charges under the
Torture Act without further delay and ensure timely prosecution of those
responsible;
Calling on the National Police Commission to conduct an independent
and impartial inquiry with immediate effect into the conduct of the OIC
and other officers of the Mahiyangana Police Station and take
disciplinary measures to hold such officers accountable.
Call on the Judicial Service Commission to inquire into the conduct of the
Mahiyangana Magistrate, Thushani Thenabadu, who being the wife of a
senior police officer, has purported to act in a partial manner that has
seriously prejudiced Podikumarihami’s safety and increased the impunity
with which the Mahiyangana police operate;
Call upon the National Police Commission to inquire into the large
number of allegations against the Sri Lanka Police, who are accused of
routinely planting false evidence/illicit drugs against persons in order to
threatened, intimidate and obtain false convictions.
Ensure adequate compensation for Podikumarihami and her family for
the damage caused by the actions of the Mahiyangana Police;
Signed by;
Individuals
1. A. Don Kingsley Karunaratne – Rule of Law Forum, Colombo
2. A. M. Bastian Coonghe
3. Adrian Pereira – Malaysia
4. Advocate George Pulikuthiyil – Jananeethi, India
5. Ajith Dharmakeerthi MSc, CITP, FRAS
6. Ajith Hadley Perera – Negombo
7. Anaz Abuthahir
8. Anberiya Hanifa
9. Annouchka Wijesinghe
10.Antonio Oposa Jr. – Philippines
11.Anuradha Bernard – Independent Journalist
12.Anuradha Udunuwara
13.Asma Rahman
14.Athula Vithanage
15.B. Gowthaman
16.Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe
17.Bruce Van Voorhis – Blogger, Chartered Software Engineer, Fellow of
Royal Astronomical Society
18.Buddhima Padmasiri
19.Chathurika Senanayake
20.Deanne Uyangoda
21.Dharani Gamage
22.Dharshanie Alles
23.Dr. Muzzammil Cader – Moderator, Samadana/m
24.Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
25.Dr. Sumathy Sivamohan
26.Dylan Perera
27.E.M. Bandara Menike
28.Emil van der Poorten – A Defender of Human Rights
29.Ermiza Tegal – Attorney-at-Law
30.Esra Mandosir – Human Rights Defender, West Papua
31.Euphrasia Silva
32.Faizun Zackariya – Rights Activist
33.Farah Mihlar
34.Filo Hirota – Japan
35.Godfrey Malarnesan
36.Godfrey Yogarajah
37.Hareesz Rasheed
38.Harshani Bogahawatte
39.Helan Thamaral – Sampath Sansada
40.Herman Kumara
41.Inthumathy Hariharathamotharan – Viluthu
42.Jake Oorloff
43.James Tan – Hong Kong
44.Jaufer Uthuma Lebbe
45.Jo Baker
46.Joanne Senn
47.Jude L. Fernando
48.K.S. Ratnavale – Attorney-at-Law
49.Kim Chishi – North-East India
50.Kusal Perera – Journalist and Political Critic
51.Lakshman Gunasekara
52.Lal Wijenayake – General Secretary, United Left Front
53.Lucille Abeykoon
54.Luis de Oliveira Sampaio – Justice System Monitoring Programme,
Timor Leste
55.M. Kusum Silva – Human Rights Protection Shelter
56.M.C.M. Iqbal
57.Marisa de Silva
58.N.M. Kalugampitiya
59.Niranjani Roland
60.P. Iranga Silva
61.P.N. Singham
62.Padma Pushpakanthi – Savisthri National Women’s Movement
63.Patrick Earle – Sydney, Australia
64.Perakum Liyanagama
65.Philip Setunga
66.Quintus Colombage
67.R.M.B Senanayake (Retd C.C.S)
68.Rajiva Wijesinha
69.Ramya Vithanage
70.Rev. Anura Perera
71.Rev. Fr. Ananda Fernando – Sampath Sansada
72.Rev. Fr. Bonnie Mendes
73.Rev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos
74.Rev. Fr. Manoj Rasanjana, OP
75.Rev. Fr. Reid Shelton Fernando
76.Rev. Fr. Rohan Silva OMI
77.Rev. Fr. Saman Perera – Moderator, Presbytery of Lanka, and Minister,
Scots Kirk, Kandy
78.Rev. Fr. Terence Fernando
79.Rev. Sr. Beatrice Fernando
80.Rev. Sr. Eymard Marie – Sampath Sansada
81.Rev. Sr. Fatimanayaki
82.Rev. Sr. Helen Fernando
83.Rev. Sr. Mabel Rodrigo
84.Rev. Sr. Mary Shirani (RGS)
85.Rev. Sr. Matilda Lazarus
86.Rev. Sr. Nichola Emmanuel
87.Rev. Sr. Shanthini Fernando
88.Rev. Sr. Sylvia Cullen
89.Rosana Fodesta
90.Ruki Fernando
91.Ruvan Weerasinghe
92.Sampath Samarakoon – Editor, Vikalpa
93.Sarath Silva
94.Shalomi Daniel
95.Shenali De Silva
96.Shivanthi Senanayake
97.Shyamali Ranaraja
98.Sooriyamoorthi Vivodan
99.Srinath Perera – Attorney-at-Law & General Secretary, Free Trade
Union Centre
100. Sunanda Deshapriya
101. Swasthika Arulingam – Attorney-at-Law
102. Thushari Madahapola – Women’s Action for Social Justice
103. Thyagi Ruwanpathirana
104. Vasantha Premaratne
105. Victor Ivan
106. Visaka Dharmadasa
Organisations
107. Alliance Development Trust (ADT)
108. Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD)
109. Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)
110. INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre
111. National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL)
112. National Fisheries Solidarity Organization (NAFSO)
113. The Grassrooted Trust
114. The Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice
115. Women for Justice and Peace in Sri Lanka (London, UK)
Human Rights Office – Kandy
¾ A, Digana Road, Nattarampotha, Kandy
+94 81-2424511 hrokandy@gmail.com
Posted by Thavam