Sri Lanka: A Reputed Interior Decorator Is Severely Tortured

Sri Lanka: A Reputed Interior Decorator Is Severely Tortured By Officers of Matugama Police At the Instigation of a Lawyer and Her Husband

Mr. MMD Aruna Nilupul Indika (39) of Welipenna, Kalutara District, was illegally arrested and severely tortured. Chili was applied onto his eyes and genitals. On 27 May 2013, he was arrested and tortured on the instruction of the lawyer Anoma Siriweera and her husband. The lawyers family had lost some items and suspected Nilupul Indika, who had done some interior decoration work at their house sometime earlier. Raveendra Pushapakumara and another officer from the Matugama Police arrived at Nilupul Indikas residence at 3:30 pm on 27th May. They asked Nilupul to accompany them to the police station without giving any reason. He was kept at the police station until the following day and, at around 1pm, he was taken to the officers quarters behind the station, where he was forced down onto the floor. At that time there were three officers present, including Raveendra Pushapakumara. The officers then shouted at him, saying that he, Nilupal, should admit selling a stolen electrical grinder, or that otherwise the police would beat him so badly that he could never work again. Nilupul Indika refused, stating that he has not committed any crime. Then one of the officers put kocchi chillies (very potent) in a sock, crushed the chillies, added water and then poured the dripping chili into Nilupuls eyes. While he was struggling in pain, the officers held him down. Later, the officers also used the chilies on his genitals and anus. He was tortured for several hours.

At 6 am on the following day, an Irishman named Mr. Helhill visited him at his cell and, having learned about the circumstances, intervened with the Office-in-Charge of the police station. The Irishman also told the police that he will remain in the police station with Nilupul Indika until he is released. Mr. Helhill told the police officers that Nilupul Indika was his best friend.

The Superintendent of Police for the area arrived at the police station for a visit and Mr. Helhill spoke to the Superintendent and sought the release of Mr. Nilupul Indika. The SP instructed the OIC to take at statement and then release Nilupul Indika immediately.

The Attorney-at-Law Anoma Siriweera visited the police station with her husband after Nilupul Indika was tortured and stated that he had not been tortured enough. The police officer Pushpakumara told the lawyer that a fabricated charge of possessing a bomb would be made against Nilupul Indika.

After his release, Nilupul Indika has made official complaints to all the relevant authorities about his illegal arrest, torture and illegal detention. See the full story below.

Mr. Madawala Maddumage Don Aruna Nilupul Indika (39), of Mahagedara, Devala Road, Welipenna in the Kalutara District is married and a father of one child. He is an interior designer by profession. He lives near Anoma Siriweera, Attorney-at-law, and her family. On 6 May 2013 at 9 am, the husband of Anoma Siriweera came to Nilupul and told him that their house had been burgled and that he suspected Nilupul of having done it. Nilupul denied the accusation and told the man that he had never committed any crime. Nilupul said that he had entered the house in question only for a painting job, for which he had been well paid. The husband of the Ms. Anoma was extremely angry and said the he would, "Take care of it later".

On 27 May at 3:30 pm, while Nilupul was working on his vegetable farm, he heard someone calling his name. He saw two police officers and Ms. Anoma's husband waiting for him. Nilupul had been using a machete (mannaya) and the police officer instructed him to put it down and come to them. When he approached them, they handcuffed his hands behind his back without explanation and ordered him to accompany them. Nilupul asked the officers to allow him to return the machete to his home and have a shower as he was dirty from his work but the officers refused. One of them took the machete to his house. While they were walking Nilupul saw that there was police jeep parked about 100 metres away. They placed him in the jeep along with Ms. Anoma's husband and started driving in the direction of the Matugama Police Station. As Nipulu's hands were cramped by the cuffs he asked the officers to loosen them and cuff his hands in front of him but they ignored him. At the station he was placed in a cell.

Later, Nilupul was able to identify one of the officers as Raveendra Pushapakumara, attached to the Crime Branch of the Matugama Police. While Nilupul was inside the cell, a police officer in civilian clothing spoke to him several times and warned him, accusing him of not telling the truth. Nilupul was in fear of being subjected to torture.

At around 8 pm his wife and child visited him at the station and provided him with some food. At 1 pm on the following day Nilupul was taken out of the cell and handcuffed by an officer. The officer then grabbed him roughly by the neck and took him to a room in the officer's quarters, which were behind the station. He was then forced into a sitting position on the floor of the living room. There were three officers present at the time, including Raveendra Pushapakumara, who was now in uniform. The other two officers were in civilian dress. Pushapakumara then shouted at Nilupul and told him that he had to admit to selling an stolen electric grinder; otherwise they would beat him so badly that he would never be able to work again. However, Nilupul denied the accusation and said that he had never engaged in any illegal act.

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Sri Lanka: A Reputed Interior Decorator Is Severely Tortured