Kanagasabai Thevathasan is a 64-year-old prisoner I met while I was at the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. Twelve years have passed since he was arrested, more than ten of which he has spent in prison. Thevathasan began fasting unto death on 6 January 2021, which he called off on 16 January for three weeks after promises were made by the prison authorities to speak with the relevant authorities to expedite his cases. Thevathasan is currently appealing his conviction under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), and is requesting his hearings be expedited and that he be granted bail. His story is like that of hundreds arrested under the PTA since its enactment in 1979. According to him, he was abducted by men in civilian clothing, held at an unauthorized place of detention for a week, tortured, forced to sign a confession and thereafter transferred to the custody of a police station. He was held on a detention order for fifteen months during which period he said he continue
Sri Lanka: A Return to Threats, Fear: Crackdown on Critics, Disregard for Accountability uktamilnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from uktamilnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Colombo (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Justice Ministry has decided to amend the Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act.
Legal Adviser to the Justice Minister U.R. de Silva PC speaking to News 1st said if a witness is intimidated or given a harmful reaction, it will be considered as an offense as per the ‘Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act’ and the accused or suspect can be produced to the Magistrate for committing such an offense.
He said after a suspect is granted bail under the normal law for a bailable offense, a witness can seek relief under the ‘Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act’ claiming the suspect had threatened or displayed animosity.
Sri Lanka’s human rights situation has seriously deteriorated under the administration of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2021.