Angulana double murder:

SC to inquire FR application

Wasantha Ramanayake

The Supreme Court decided to fully inquire into the Fundamental Rights Application filed in connection the death of two youths while they were in the custody of the Angulana Police Post.

The Bench comprised Justice Shiranee Thilakawardane, Justice K. Sripavan and Justice S.I. Imam.

In this application two petitioners Swarnalatha Aponsu, mother of Dinesh Tharanga Fernando and Devika Fernando, mother of Danushka Udayakantha of Angulana cited PC T. Gayan Chathuranga Totawatte, IP Roshan Bandara Navarathne, PC G. Indrawansa Kumarasiri PC Anura Pradeep Kumara, all in the remand prison and IP Vinie Newton, the IGP, the AG and four others as respondents.

Counsel Chula Bandara appearing for the two mothers of the deceased youths submitted that the youths were breadwinners of two families as their fathers were not gainfully employed. Counsel submitted that one of the deceased Dinesh Tharanga was employed as a fish seller earned around Rs 1000 a day while the other Dhanushka Udayakantha had a steady income of Rs 7000 as an instructor in a fitness centre. He submitted that the two youths had given most of their income to their mothers.

The counsel submitted that on August 12 around 11.30 in the night two youths had asked for a box of matches from a family living in a makeshift house located at Angulana, where several families who were affected by the Tsunami had been housed.

He submitted that since these two youths had been a nuisance to the family, they had subsequently complained to the Angulana Police Post. The counsel submitted that later they were arrested by the respondent Police officers attached to the Angulana Police Post and had been brutally assaulted thereafter.

He submitted that later their bodies were recovered close to the railway track. The counsel stated that the respondent Police officers were responsible for their deaths.

The petitioners stated that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had also given Rs. 500,000 each to the petitioners following the incident.