Personal details of the victim
The victim name is Sandun Malinga, 17years old, school student from Kandeketiya, Badulla
district of Sri Lanka.
Incident
On the 07th of May 2014, Sandun Malinga and his four other relatives were arrested by the
police officers of Kandaketiya police station, for punishable offence of treasurer hunting.
Police officers had assaulted them. After, on 08th of May 2014, the victim’s parents went to
the police station. In the police station, the victim complained to his mother that the police
officers assaulted him and he has severe chest pain and pleaded his mother to rub his chest.
Then the victim’s mother realized that her son is in critical condition and asked reserve officer
on duty to admit him to the hospital. The reserve officer informed them that nothing can be
done as there are no officers at the Police station. After, they came to police station later in
the morning and they found the victim are in a worst condition and crying while lying in the
floor and continue to say that his chest is paining. After, police officers took them to
Meegahakivula hospital. The victim’s brother said that, S.I. Somarathne first went to the
DMO’s office of the Meegahakivula hospital and had a chat with the doctor for about 30
minutes and then they produced to the DMO and DMO didn’t check any of the victim and his
relatives and DMO didn’t take any seriousness of them. Then, police officers produced the
victim and others to Magistrate Court and they were remanded for 14 days. On the 09th of
May 2014, the victim died.
Steps we have taken
One of our activists referred the victim’s parents to R2L. Complaints were prepared and sent
to Human Rights Commission, National Police Commission and Inspector General of Police.
A Fundamental Right case has been filed in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. And, the
police officers indicted for Murder under Penal Code. The case was filed in the Badulla High
Court (HC 01/2015).
Current Situation
Leave was granted for the Fundamental Right Case and it is still ongoing. (SCFR 157/2014)
There were two (02) court appearances during the 2019. On the 09th of January 2017,
Badulla High Court gave the judgment about the murder case (HC 01/2015). In the judgment
ordered death penalty to the six (06) accused persons. And we must get an order from the
Supreme Court to get the aggrieved party compensated.