The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has called upon the Inspector General of Police to explain the failure to prevent the killing of Tinker Lasantha even after the BASL had sent him an email the day before the incident, conveying the fears of a lawyer that his client could be killed by police. As [...]

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Lawyer feared Tinker Lasantha would be killed by police: BASL seeks IGP’s explanation

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The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has called upon the Inspector General of Police to explain the failure to prevent the killing of Tinker Lasantha even after the BASL had sent him an email the day before the incident, conveying the fears of a lawyer that his client could be killed by police.

As feared by the lawyer, Tinker Lasantha died in a shoot-out while being taken to ‘recover’ hidden weapons after he was arrested by the Kalutara Division Crime Unit.

The day before the incident, the suspect’s lawyer Sanjaya Ariyadasa contacted the BASL President to inform him that his client H.L. Lasantha alias Tinkering Lasantha had been arrested and his life was in danger. The lawyer expressed fears that the police could kill Lasantha and come up with a story that he died in a shoot-out while being taken to show hidden weapons.

In a statement, the BASL said its president had conveyed Mr. Ariyadasa’s concerns to the IGP via email and a text message. He also wrote to the Human Rights Commissioner in charge of Inquiries and Investigations and the Commission’s Director in charge of Inquiries and Investigations.

However, on the following morning, November 26, the media reported that the suspect had been shot dead while being taken to recover hidden weapons.

“Once again, the Sri Lanka Police is involved in an incident which has the hallmarks of an extrajudicial killing. This killing comes at a time when Sri Lanka’s human rights record is under scrutiny and there are threats of consequences to the country and its economy as a result of the deteriorating human rights situation,” the BASL said.

“The police appear to continue to pay scant regard to previous decisions of the highest courts in the land on the need for rights of suspects to be protected whilst in the custody of the State,” the statement added..

It noted that previous incidents too had not been investigated properly and no action taken by the authorities to bring the culprits to justice, leading to allegations of a climate of impunity. Such failures have resulted in the whole process of administration of justice being called into question and the loss of public confidence in its efficacy, it said.

Meanwhile, the Bar Council has decided that the BASL will appear in the Kalutara Magistrate’s Court during the inquest and move court for orders. The BASL will also file a fundamental rights application or writ on the issue of extrajudicial killings.

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