6 December, 2024

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Alleged Torturer Heads Sri Lankan CID: ITJP

International assistance to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sri Lankan police must be urgently reviewed now that a well known alleged torturer has been put in charge. Senior Superintendant of Police Adambarage Ruwan Prasanna Jayak De Alwis was appointed the new Director of CID by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday. 

Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Prasanna de Alwis is named in numerous court documents in connection with torture, including the case filed by eleven Tamils in 2019 in California against Gotabaya Rajapaksa. A 13 page dossier which includes Alwis, among many others, was submitted as evidence in this case.  

“This is a gravely worrying step, especially before parliamentary elections,” said the Executive Director of the International Truth and Justice Project, Yasmin Sooka.”Multiple detainees have named Prasanna de Alwis as torturing them or being complict in their torture, dating back as far as 1998. Prasanna de Alwis has remained extremely loyal to  Gotabaya Rajapaksa who directly issued orders to him during the war when Alwis was in the police Terrorism Investigation Division”.  

Systematic torture by TID in the period when Prasana de Alwis was based in TID headquarters has been documented by multiple United Nations mechanisms including Special Rapporteurs on Torture and the 2015 OHCHR Investigation report (OISL) into Sri Lanka. Successive US State Department annual human rights reports also refer to brutal forms of torture used by the TID during this period. The notorious police unit was the subject of a detailed ITJP report published in 2019, based on the testimony of 73 survivors of TID torture interviewed in 5 countries. The ITJP report also identified 58 alleged torturers in TID including those who bear command responsibility. As far back as 2007, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Manfred Nowak, named several of the same alleged perpetrators of torture in TID when he visited Sri Lanka and not one was investigated or prosecuted. Instead many were subsequently promoted. 

“This man is emblematic of impunuty in Sri Lanka,” said Yasmin Sooka. The international community is obliged to ensure that those responsible for torture are held accountable. Sri Lanka is obliged in terms of its international commitments to ensure that torturers are vetted and screened from holding public office.” 

Canadian citizen Roy Samathanam, who filed the case against Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2019 in California, said in his court submission that while in TID detention in December 2007, he overheard a phone call between Prasanna de Alwis and Gotabaya Rajapaksa discussing his case. Later that evening, he received a particularly brutal torture session at the hands of TID officers leaving him with a swollen left wrist, injured knees, and pain in the stomach and groin area. The following morning, Prasanna de Alwis asked Roy what had happened to him the previous night. He then warned Roy not to tell the Red Cross about the beating and said he would no longer be beaten and would be released if he signed a confession. Roy told Prasanna de Alwis that he wanted to see a lawyer, to which the policeman responded, “You can’t have a lawyer. No one can help you here.” In 2016, Roy Samathanam won a UN Human Rights Committee complaint regarding his torture in TID custody and the Government of Sri Lanka was ordered to give him compensation but failed to comply. 

Prasanna de Alwis was also named in the Fundamental Rights Applications of several Tamil journalists detained and tortured during the war, including Vettival Jasikaran and his partner Valarmathy Vadivelu, and Jayaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam, who was described by President Obama as emblematic of an unjustly persecuted journalist. 

In addition, Alwis was questioned in connection with his role in the investigation into the murder of Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunge in 2009. A former army intelligence officer Kandegedara Piyawansa, who was arrested in 2010 by TID for the murder, made a statement in open court in 2016 alleging that Alwis had tried to influence him into making a statement implicating the former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka in Lasantha’s assassination, with the promise of being made a state witness and given overseas employment. 

In February 2017, reports say then TID Director, DIG Nalaka de Silva, lodged a complaint with the Inspector General of Police against Prasanna de Alwis.  The complaint alleged embezzlement and that Alwis had tried to implicate Sarath Fonseka in the murder of Lasantha  Wickrematunge. Later Nalaka de Silva was arrested for his role in an alleged plot to kill Gotabaya Rajapaksa, then President Maithripala Sirisena and Prasanna de Alwis. It is not clear if the police complaint against Prasanna de Alwis was investigated or whether his name was cleared regarding the allegations by his superior officer. 

Additionally, eleven other witnesses interviewed by the ITJP named Prasanna de Alwis in their testimony. They allege he knew about the systematic use of torture in TID headquarters in Colombo and in TID’s Boossa detention site in Galle, saying there was no way Alwis could have ignored the screams from detainees being tortured at night while he worked late in his office.  One detainee alleged that Alwis tried to force him to give false testimony; another described always being made to kneel on the floor when he was taken to Alwis’s office even though there was a chair. He is alleged to have slapped and threatened detainees taken to his office. Another man said Prasanna de Alwis ordered him to stop lying and left the room while four of his subordinates turned up the radio to mask the sound and beat him severely. Alwis returned and the witness says did not intervene when a subordinate ordered him to be placed in a stress position. 

TID detainees described an interrogation room in Colombo equipped for torture with an iron beam in the ceiling used to suspend prisoners with ropes. He saw naked blindfolded prisoners being led to the room and said Alwis would sometimes go in and blame his subordinates for not getting more information out of the detainees.  Detainees say everyone referred to Alwis as “Gota’s man” and that officers senior to him deferred to Alwis as a result. 

“TID was under the control of Gotabaya Rajapaksa when he was defence secretary; now the same cast of characters is being promoted which should ring alarm bells to anyone dealing with Sri Lanka,” said Ms. Sooka. “We expect Leahy Laws to be applied to the CID which should not receive any US assistance. We also expect the UK government, which has been training the Sri Lankan police to stop any programmes with the CID. Additionally all sections of the United Nations should apply the same vetting policy to the CID, including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and UN Peacekeeping.”  

Ends.

Latest comments

  • 37
    9

    GOTLER is getting his Himmlers, Gorings, Goebbels, Bormanns & Keitels in place.
    Bring it on … you son of a gun.

    • 7
      22

      Mr. Ajay,
      .
      We have already done it.
      You can cry all you want.

      • 15
        4

        SCP,
        .
        who are we ?
        .
        Those from Wiyath maga – that are proved to no different to lowlives ?
        .
        Where are they today ? Godahewa is speechless today
        :
        That Fake Prof Jaysumana is swimming in overflowing toilet pits of Medamulana – but says nothing about his theroies on controversal elections.
        :
        Dr Jasinghe would not dance to your tone, because he can loose everything at once.
        :
        He under the mediation of BPs has ruined his job not having performed enough tests sofar with permament increase of the patient numbers day by day. Thinking about flattening the curve is made a dream by his lead.

        We are not happy not being able to go for elections but what count first is the security of people:
        :
        People are in danger today than any times before. Why Bitch s sons failed to do the due at the beginign as of end of February or so -created the problems withitn the country. Now I heard even ARMY men are against the ruling govt. ##

        Self Congrats would not please the majortiy but RAJAKSHE slaves.

  • 26
    5

    These lowly earning sadists love torturing the innocent s as well as the guilty.
    Then to let both groups free from captivity they resort to taking kappan or under the table money.
    I feel sad for the kith and kin of these masochist torturers who must be in fear at all times of the day.
    A good example is the wife of the kallathoni of a illegal president who seems to be mortally afraid at any time she comes into the open.
    Asian and a major part of the policing forces thrive on torment to solve their enquiries
    if I had remained in Colombo for a few more days I too would have been incarcerated as a Tamil tiger financier
    After being tortured to high heaven I would have had to part with million’s to buy my freedom from being held in primitive low class captivity.
    The kallathoni and his gang of maurdering gangsters have to be captured and put away far far away in an crocodile infested island for them to devour each other and not being low classed pariah parasites who enjoy being sadists on the weak and the opressed.

  • 7
    27

    Yep.
    That’s why we appoint him.
    JOB WELL DONE.

    • 17
      7

      Job well done ?

      My foot.
      :
      Just name us one single person to have done their job well sofar.
      :
      They self-congratulate, but nothing is said to be done well … hu hu… what bs you ve been droping down.?

      +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
      SRILANKA – country no others
      Coronavirus Cases: 1,319
      Deaths: 10
      Tests done sofar 56,181
      ************************************************
      But the countries such as Vietnam
      Coronavirus Cases:327
      Deaths – ZEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO::
      Tests done sofar 275,000
      ************************************************
      But the countries such as Nepal
      Coronavirus Cases: 772
      Deaths: 4
      Tests done sofar 152,391
      *************************************************
      But the countries such as Venezeula
      Coronavirus Cases: 1,177
      Deaths: 10
      Tests done sofar:832,526
      *************************************************

      • 10
        5

        Leelage Malli,

        Today Minister Arumugam Thondaman died. If it is heart related, why is it taking so long to that come in news? If he was Muslim, they might have declared it is Corona virus, even without taking him to hospital.
        So silly everything!

        • 10
          3

          A country as no others, they have failed almost everything So Far. They returned to power..through blant lies, and they have proved to be losers as of now.
          .
          Self congraduations. and self glorifications would not stay that long – people would not respect them sooner than later.
          :
          This we warned prior to Nov 2019.
          :
          But they returned to power, by misleading the nation. So, now people face the consequences.
          :
          Cost of living is very high – not affordable. They the state cant afford to give that 5000 bucks allownace to the poor. STARVING numbers across the country will go up drastically.
          :
          40% of the population will have to face it – THEIR funds are being abused by Rajakshes for their SUKA WIHARANAYA – luxury life. Gota will never be able to face the challenges.. his heart will nto let him remain live in the days to come.
          :
          Every heart patient should be free from Stress…. in the early months after being undergone to a heart surgery… if that is the case with GOTLERs, he will not remain live amidst the self-made stress prevailing in the country. THat will then be a good news to all. If people fail, there is no doubt, divine forces to bring the clarity. Basta.

        • 4
          3

          “If he was Muslim, they might have declared it is Corona virus, even without taking him to hospital.”
          This is truly witty.

      • 4
        14

        Mr. leele ge …..,
        .
        Who needs your commendation my dear.
        .
        You can cry all you want as long as you want.
        .
        Who cares.
        .
        We do it our way. The way we deemed fit.

        • 10
          3

          Wait and See MrS Pasqual, we have no doubt we can donate your OP fees in the future. You tend to be inconsistent with your koheda yann malle pol answers. However you can be a catalysator to the gallery.
          :
          We will get the buggers under control as done in 2015. Crystal clear ! Gota will have to fall sick in his cage in the days to come. Wait and see, Jayaweewaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

        • 7
          2

          WOW, nice attitude Ms SCP, No differnt to that of IRAJ BP.. ha ha.. ohoma yang ! .. but for how long ?

          Go ahead ! The days ahead of you, you will fall on your nose.. . no doubt about that.

          Kamal Agunaratne as a BP, is now more or less speechless being unable to face the music.

          Gota is said to be ROTTEN in his Janapthi maedura.

          Mafia BOSS /Srilanka s SAIBABA – is as usual in his UO – fooling AND farting around… he has created a situation as if URULAEWA moved around… entire country is alreday KUNU kanda under ballige puthaSs# rule.

    • 13
      7

      S. C. Passqual

      “JOB WELL DONE.”

      He needs Auschwitz concentration camp guards, should be able to work under pressure, able to handle maintenance of multiple Gas pipes, monitor stock level, ……. improve efficiency, …… If you mark yes to all these questions you got the job. You will be appointed as the Rudolf Höss camp – Commandant only if you are not sane and proven sadist.

      • 6
        6

        Mr. Native Vedda,
        .
        Don’t worry.
        .
        Our military rescued you from terrorists who maintained that type of camps.
        .
        Don’t be afraid.

        • 8
          4

          There are speculations, that the MILLTARY is now changing their attitudes not being able to understand BPs and their politics.

          They dont respect rajakashe malacy. They are realizing they should not work on the tune of criminals.

        • 5
          4

          S. C. Passqual

          “Our military rescued you from terrorists who maintained that type of camps.”

          Pathetic.
          You will be appointed as the Rudolf Höss camp – Commandant only if you are not sane and proven sadist.

      • 6
        2

        Dear Native, .. wie geht es dir denn so. ?
        .
        I THOUGHT – Kamal Agunaratne and other coprals in positions are Auschwitz concentration camp guards -like… is not that so ? See that former soldier stood before former President Borther Dudly ? unforutnatley, unlike HITLER’s he did not succeeded get the DUDLY tamed ?

        As was the case with Hitlor, coming days, Gotler’s selbstmord – Suicide is imminent. THere are speculations that GOTLER is not feeling well all these days. His servility to his cimrinal brother duo, seem to have ruined his motivation.

        This is why we warned enough our PUNNAKU drinkers prior to Nov 2019.

      • 5
        2

        Dear Native,
        i m worried of Amarasiri.. and i miss him. Pleaes help.. I hope he is safe.
        :Please.
        Thanks
        LM (Greetings from Germany)

        • 4
          1

          leelagemalli

          I too am truly worried about Amarasiri.
          I am also worried about
          KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera
          Helass
          Taraki
          vannihamy
          Loony Shamal


          ….

          Take care

  • 21
    7

    Is it surprising in a Country where war criminal who murdered innocent civilians as a part of ethinic Cleansing is the President.
    It is only a news, in a country with a decent person is the President

    • 7
      2

      Dilshan,

      even if any parties could damage ina war sitaution, but the manner in post war scenarios BPs the way handled it …promoting extra judicial killings and disspeareances of the people and various other high crimes came up show that BALLIGE puthas are only high criminals.
      :
      So the world will clarify it looking at the manner now they handle the COVID crisis. Indian LOW LIFE may have congradulated Gotler but who else ? Not a single leader from EU would greet the bugger duo. We wil not allow EU leaders to promote Rajapaksishism in our motherland.
      :
      BpS will be found in drains to the very same manner Gadfi s ended up few years ago. That day will be the sunniest day for me…. I am a fighting for the poor of the poor who are really in need. Regardless of their race and religion.

  • 22
    6

    Its a well known fact not only locally but internationally when an alleged War Crime accused was elected as the President of the country the country would be militarized. Its also a well known fact that in militarizing the country, priority would always be given to those others against whom War Crime allegations are there. There is nothing to be surprised about these two facts.

    There is no point in blaming Gotabaya for this, the blame should be taken by the English speaking elite in Colombo, who live in a bubble. These elite have not reached out to the villages to explain and make the villagers, who are not English speaking, of the true political situation prior to the Presidential election. Similarly, if the same elite of Colombo do not take drastic action, Rajapakse Pohottuwa winning the General Election is also guaranteed. Hence, there is no point in writing in Colombo Telegraph or any other English media but to take the next step by publishing everything that is written in English in Colombo Telegraph and other English media into Sinhala and ensure that the news is spread among to Villages. It may also be necessary for these elite to mobilize themselves and knock on each door in the village and explain the dangers of choosing the wrong party. Unfortunately, even the candidates do not do this in an organized, repeated manner.

    • 11
      4

      You have a good point. The problem is, the people who do not read English get some of their information from the Sinhala Racist media, which is the propaganda arm of the Rajapaksa regime, and will believe anything that is stated, unable to think things through and reason things out. After the “convenient” Easter Day Bombings, this man announced his candidacy, and his propaganda machine went into gear and convinced the nation, that it is ONLY he that can deal with terrorists. We also have to place the blame on the previous two dolts, who were two incompetent figureheads, who played their own devious games, that resulted in this even more deplorable lot the country is cursed with.

    • 7
      3

      Mr. Buddhist1,
      .
      Funny points…….
      .
      1. “English speaking elite” living in “Colombo”……….
      2. have to “reached out to” the “villages” to explain……….
      3. and make the “villagers”, who are “not English speaking”
      …………………..
      4. “elite of Colombo” ……..
      5. “publishing everything that is written in English” in Colombo Telegraph and other “English media” into “Sinhala” ……
      6. and ensure that the news is spread among to “Villages” …..
      .
      Are you one of the “COLOMBO ELITES” who are coming to educate us “SINHALA VILLAGES”….?

  • 10
    3

    ” We expect Leahy Lawas to be applied to the CID which should not receive any US assistance” this writer says in the article. The US has already given a “BAIT” to S/L Government. “Sign the MCC” or face consequences. To get that agreement signed the US Ambassador in S/L is working day and night with the present administration. The present President GR has postponed the signing until the Parliamentary elections are held, while some affiliate s of the Government go about the country stating that, it WILL NOT be signed. But the President remains “SILENT”. All these protests and requests to US, such as indicated above-quoted statement would receive its due place “THE GARBAGE BIN”, once the President GR signs the “MCC” Agreement. The “COLONIZATION” of Sri Lanka by “Supper Powers” such as China, US, and India is much more important than these International Body “Dictates”.

  • 14
    6

    What a shame. This wanna be dictator has clearly shown strong signals, that his dictatorship will be supported, and protected, by war criminals, murderers, people who have been under investigations for brutal crimes, and those who will do his bidding, even breaking the laws to do it. Aren’t there any honest and decent Sri Lankans in his administration? Have we a shortage of decent, qualified, Sri Lankans, that can fill these top posts?
    If The Rajapaksa’s wanted to show the country they are going to conform to our laws, and not act like thugs like they did before, they would NOT have appointed a gang of scoundrels, who belong behind bars, not driving around in luxury vehicles with their entourage.

    This latest appointment of a man who was a SUSPECT in the brutal murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge, is once again, the tyrant GR showing his arrogance, and showing the world, he will surround himself with the lowest of low, a brutal lot of people, who will continue help him continue the Rajapaksa reign of terror. If we had a difficult time during the last Rajapaksa reign, we are in for a worse one. He has more criminals and scoundrels in top positions, to do his bidding. Journalists, activists, and courageous people who speak out against their crimes, be afraid.

  • 3
    2

    Problem is Western countries who spend their own money to promote democracy, give out many programs to promote human rights, wasting their citizens incomes in GSP+ like programs, are not ready to take any action on Lankawe. Britain did know who the hell the Lankawe is from Don Stephen’s time. America had noted from President Nixon time. Regan refused to help Sirimavo. Amb. Kaley described as cesspool countries. Germany wanted the 57 conditions implemented before EU give any handouts. But, strangely none of them takes any action. If one these countries had taken any action in 1958, none these would have happened. Why waited SWRD build a Russian and Chinese guesthouse in Lankawe and Ranil sell the Harbor to China.

    As said already few times, it was Tamils to goofed in March 2019 and March 2020. So it looks like UNHRC will not even talk about 30/1 until March 2021 comes.

  • 5
    2

    I wonder which is more irrelevant ? This news rag or phony ITJP. If not for this rag no one knows what ITJP is. Either way they both belong in a dumpster. That unemployed witch Zooka is overestimating her own relevance.

  • 6
    2

    If ITJP is serious about Torture I suggest they start with George Bush and Donald Rumsfield who ordered and condoned well documented torture at Guantanamo Bay +of course so many secret detention centers around the world

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