In a tragic case dating back to April 2012, Nimal Chandrasiri, a fisherman from Thalpitiya, Wadduwa, faced a brutal fate while in police custody. Arrested under suspicious circumstances, he was found in severe pain in the Wadduwa police cell. Despite pleas from his family for medical help, police officers dismissed his agony as mere pretense. Hours later, Chandrasiri was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The case, shrouded in allegations of police brutality, faced prolonged delays, leaving his family in search of justice for over a decade. Mrs. Dilupa Sudarshani, the victim’s wife, with the support of the Right to Life Human Rights Centre, filed a Writ of Mandamus in 2015, pressing for disciplinary actions against the officers involved. This legal motion demanded an investigation from higher authorities, including the Inspector General of Police and the National Police Commission.
The Appeal Court’s intervention, initiated by the writ, brought new momentum to the investigation. In 2017, indictments were finally filed against officers, including former Officer-in-Charge Nimal Karunarathna and several others, who were later suspended. The prolonged delay in formal investigations highlighted serious lapses in handling such a severe case by responsible authorities.
In November 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that the fundamental rights of Nimal Chandrasiri were violated due to police misconduct. The court ordered compensation of Rs. 125,000 from each of the two responsible officers personally and an additional Rs. 250,000 from the state, totaling Rs. 500,000 to be paid to the victim’s family. This ruling emphasized the failure of the police officers to provide timely medical attention, which could have potentially saved his life.
The case serves as a stark reminder of systemic issues in law enforcement and the struggles faced by ordinary citizens in their pursuit of justice. Though justice was delayed by more than 10 years, the court’s decision, along with the efforts of the Right to Life Human Rights Centre, provides a glimmer of hope for accountability within the police force.