The high court judge, Mrs. J.M.T.M.P.U. Tennakone announced on last 17th , that the order on the Police torture case of Mr Gerard Mervin Perera’s, father of three children who lived in Makevita, against the police officers of Wattala, including Sub Inspector, Makavitage Suresh Perera and 7 other police officers, will be delivered on coming 27th of March.
The evidence was led by Mr Shavinda Ranasingha on behalf of the Attorney General’s Department. The aggrieved party was represented by a team of lawyers, Presidential council Mr. Srinath Perera, Attorney’s at law, Mr.Rasik Sanjeewa Perera and Miss Chamari Mahanayaka. The accused were represented by Lawyers Mr. Shanaka Ranasingha and Prince Perera.
Gerard, who was a chef at the Colombo Dock Yard, was taken into custody by Wattala Police on 23rd of June 2002,on suspicion of a murder, was brutally tortured and was released on the next day saying that he was taken into custody by a mistake, even without recording a statement. He had to be admitted to a private hospital, Nawaloka hospital due to the serious illness due to the torture was then admitted to the intensive care unit for 14 days. After about one month in the hospital only his conditions became normal
He was orderd about Rs,1,500,000. the highest amount on a human rights case in SriLanka, filled against the responsible Police officers
The Attorney generals Department filed another case against the accused Police officers in the high court, Negombo, under the torture act, in 2003. On 21st of November 2003, before the first date to give evidence by Mr. Gerard, He was shot dead in a public bus when He was traveling to work.
A case has been filed against the Sub Inspector, Suresh Perera of Wattala Police in the high court of Negombo charging him with the murder of Gerard and the case is already on trial.