Six police officers who assaulted a youth ordered to pay Rs. 1.2 million compensation

The Supreme Court (SC) ruled that six former officers of the Thambuttegama Police must personally pay Rs. 1.2 million compensation for violating the fundamental rights of a youth who was arrested, brutally assaulted, and tortured after participating in a 2012 protest march against the police.

The judgment was delivered yesterday (23) by Supreme Court Justice Priyantha Fernando, with the concurrence of Justices Thurai Raja and Yasantha Kodagoda, following a fundamental rights petition filed by Susil Priyanka Seneviratne, a resident of Thambuttegama.

The court found that the officers—former constables Prasanna Karunajeewa, M.D. Jagath Pala, M.G.T.B. Abeysinghe, Upali Herath and Police Sergeant P.K. Prematunga—violated the petitioner’s rights and ordered each to pay Rs. 200,000 from their personal funds.

In a further directive, the Supreme Court instructed the Attorney General to examine the possibility of initiating criminal proceedings against the officers under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Act No. 22 of 1994 and to take necessary legal action.

The ruling underscores the judiciary’s commitment to upholding fundamental rights and ensuring accountability for law enforcement misconduct.