HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA, Annual Report 2019 ▪ Abduction and extra-judicial (HRC/MT/Suo/Motu/01/19) killing of two citizens The Commission initiated an investigation into the alleged abduction and subsequent murder of two local businessmen from Ratgama on or around 23 January 2019 which came to the notice of the Commission through its media monitoring activities. The bodies of the victims had been incinerated to avoid possible detection. The Commission later received three complaints on this same incident which were investigated together with the suo motu inquiry. At the preliminary stages of the inquiry it came to light that a special unit attached to the office of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Galle was responsible for the abduction. As a result, the Commission called for and recorded statements of the respondents to proceed with the inquiry. ▪ Arrest of a University (HRC/Suo/Motu/06/19) student activist An investigation was initiated pursuant to newspaper reports of the alleged illegal arrest of Mahil Bandara, Convenor of the Inter-student Federation during a student demonstration in Colombo on or around 13 March 2019 violating his right to freedom from arbitrary arrest. The Commission continues the investigation to determine if due process was followed in the arrest so as not to impede on the right to freedom from arbitrary arrest and other rights such as the freedom of expression. ▪ Assault of persons by the police (HRC/MT/Suo/Motu/07/19) The Commission launched an investigation in light of disclosures in the media, into the assault of three persons by the DIG in charge of the Puttalam area while dispersing a public demonstration in Puttalam area on or round 22.03.2019. The demonstration was against Colombo’s garbage disposal to the Aruwakkalu Garbage Recycling Plant. The investigation continued to the end of 2019. 63