case against ASP Ranmal Kodituwakku

Nimal Gunaratne was arrested by the police in June 2000 but upto now no case has been filed against him.

Gunaratne was arrested by the Panadura police and severely tortured by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ranmal Koddithuwakku and fellow officers from the Panadura Police Station, Asian Human Rights Commission said in a statement.

He lost his eyesight in one eye and suffered from several other serious injuries due to this torture.

Ranmal Kodituwakku is the son of the then Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Since making complaints against the police officers, Gunaratne has been receiving imminent threats on his life by the said ASP, AHRC further said.

Regarding the threats, the AHRC issued an Urgent Appeal about the shooting incident against Gunaratne on 6 March 2005 in which three unidentified police officers and two other persons were allegedly involved.

The AHRC says once it reported the case, the police headquarters sent officials to Gunaratne's house and recorded his statement regarding the threats.

However, they have not taken any action to ensure Gunaratne and his family's security at that time.

The AHRC says it has received information again regarding further threats to Gunaratne.

According to him, several unknown people visited his garden recently and also they come and stay near his house "almost every day", AHRC said.

He and his family fear that these people might be plotting to harm his life. They are now living in fear and remain in hiding by moving from place to place, the AHRC said.

It has also received information that the Attorney General (AG) has not filed the indictment (criminal charges) against the responsible police officers under the CAT Act no. 22 of 1994, even though the investigation of this case has been concluded.

There is an undue delay in pronouncing the judgment of his Fundamental Rights Application (civil charges) in Supreme Court Nimal Silva Gunaratne said.