Image: A protest against extra-judicial killings in the Philippines.
Issuing a statement on recent killings of two persons by the police, Lawyers for Democracy says that “this is no doubt plain murder and it is time that action is taken to put a stop to this type of barbaric actions by the state. These acts are a serious challenge to rule of law in the country. We do not see any action being taken by the Magistrate’s Court that has to hold an inquiry under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure when such murders are reported to Court.”
Statement by Lawyers for Democracy:
Lawyers for Democracy condemns the killing of suspects Urujeewa and Kosgoda Tharaka while in Police Custody. It is the latest cases to be reported of persons in Police Custody being killed after this government came to power. Killings of this nature took place rampantly during the pre-2015 period. It is to the credit for the Yahapalana Government elected to power in 2015 that extra judicial killings of persons in custody did not take place during the post 2015 period. It is strange to see the police relating similar stories unashamedly after every such killing. This is no doubt plain murder and it is time that action is taken to put a stop to this type of barbaric actions by the state. These acts are a serious challenge to rule of law in the country. We do not see any action being taken by the Magistrate’s Court that has to hold an inquiry under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure when such murders are reported to Court.
It is heartening to see that the Bar Association of Sri Lanka has shown concern on these happenings. It is up to civil society organization to express its protest at these killings and demand that the rule of law be upheld. These killings has taken place while the victims were in the custody of the state and the state cannot shirk its responsibility.
Lawyers for Democracy calls upon the government to investigate into these killings and to initiate appropriate legal proceedings against those responsible.
Lal Wijenayake
Convener – Lawyers for Democracy