Supreme Court orders Deshbandu and three others to pay compensation of Rs. 2 million

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court today (December 14) ordered Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon and three other police officers to pay a compensation of Rs. 2 million out of their personal funds to an individual for violating his fundamental rights, while being detained at the Mirihana Police Station.

The Supreme Court ruled that four police officers including Acting IGP Deshbandu Tennakoon violated the fundamental rights of the petitioner W. Ranjith Sumangala by illegally arresting him, detaining him and torturing him in 2011 at the Mirihana Police Station under the supervision of Deshabandu Tennakoon.

Ajith Wanasundera (Retired Army Sergeant Major), a private party involved in the incident, was also held liable and he too was ordered to pay compensation.

The State was directed to pay a compensation of Rs.100,000 to the petitioner.

The Supreme Court further ordered the authorities including the National Police Commission to take disciplinary action against all the police officers including Deshbandu Tennakoon.

Senior Counsel Viran Corea with counsel Sarita De Fonseka and Thilini Vidanagamage appeared for the petitioner while Senior State Counsel Induni Punchihewa appeared for Tennakoon and the Attorney General.

The judgment was delivered by Justice S. Thurairaja with Justices Kumudini Wickremasinghe and Priyantha Fernando agreeing.