HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA, Annual Report 2018
Pradeshiya Sabha, Pannala Police Station, Pannala Divisional
Secretariat and Water Resources Board.
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In relation to a complaint made against raising penalties for
motor traffic offences. Complainants were the Lanka Selfemployed Three Wheel Drivers Association, Lanka inter-district
school transport service providers’ Union, Association of Hotel
Owners, and All Ceylon Motor Cyclists’ Union. A preliminary
discussion was held with the complainants, at which it was
decided to convene a discussion with the other relevant parties
such as the National Road Safety Authority.
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Special interventions and monitoring by regional offices
Regional and sub-offices of the Commission also regularly monitor the
human rights situations in the region and intervene in appropriate
circumstances. The following is a snapshot of such interventions:
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Alerted by a newspaper headline, the Matara regional office
intervened in the alleged death of a person at the hands of the police
during an altercation between the police and some villagers in
Katharagama. The regional office visited the place of the incident to
record the statement of the wife of the deceased, the Katharagama
Police Station, and the Angunukolapalassa prison to obtain
statements from the two accused, one a police constable, the other
belonging to the Civil Defense Force. The regional office also
summoned both parties for an inquiry. The said investigation is
pending as at the end of 2018.
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During the communal riots that took place in Digana and the
environs the staff of the Kandy regional office made daily visits from
06 March- 09 March 2018 to the areas where the violence occurred.
The officers made all efforts to speak directly to the victims of
violence and shared the contact details of the Kandy Regional office
and the Regional Coordinator for the victims to contact the
Commission if they experienced any difficulties in dealing with
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