Peliyagoda Police torture case fixed for October 12

The trial against four police officers, including the former Officer in Charge of the Peliyagoda Police Station, for allegedly assaulting and torturing a law student inside the police station, will be called on October 12.

Colombo High Court Judge Buddhika C. Ragala issued this directive today.

The victim of the assault inside the Peliyagoda Police Station is law student Migara Gunaratne, the younger son of President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, who is also a former Governor of the Western Province.

The Attorney General filed indictments on June 17 last year against the former Officer in Charge of the Peliyagoda Police, Chief Inspector Arachchige Linton Silva, Jayakody Arachchige Sumith Kumara Somarathne, Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Nadun Tharaka Madhuranga Abeykoon, and Athula Wijesinghe.

The prosecution filed the case under Section 32 of the Penal Code and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Act, No. 22 of 1994.

The incident occurred on 25 February 2021, when law student Migara Gunaratne attempted to provide lunch to his client, Sashika Jayaweera, who was held under detention orders at the Peliyagoda Police Station.

Police officers reportedly attempted to obtain a statement from the suspect by force at the time, and a subsequent dispute escalated, resulting in the police officers brutally assaulting the law student.

Migara Gunaratne previously filed a petition before the Supreme Court, claiming his fundamental rights were violated during the incident.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled that the respondent police officers, including the then Peliyagoda OIC Linton Silva, must pay compensation to the petitioner law student from their personal funds, alongside compensation from the State.

The High Court case is scheduled for recall on October 12.