Volume : 4

Issue : 52
E Mail : nandmana@sltnet.lk
www.hrokandy.blogspot.com

"Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible

only as first it resides in the hearts and souls of the
citizens" - Plato

A special programme to commemorate the “International

Day in support of the Torture survivors” was organized
by the Human Rights Office Kandy on the 23rd June 2013
at Nawalapitiya along with a Legal clinic. The Human
Rights Office highlighted the court Judgment HC
309/2007 the rape, torture & murder of S. Umadevi of
Imbulpitiya Nawalapitiya. The incident that took place on
the 12th of September 2001 finally received Justice by the
High Court of Kandy Sri Lanka in September 2012
sentencing 02 accused for 20 years of imprisonment for
the rape and death sentence for the murder.

Those who gathered at the church premises on the 23rd June 2013, to commemorate the "International day in
support of the Torture survivors" were reminded about the public protest that was held in September 2001 by
the Religious leaders & the members of the civil society calling for investigations into the abduction, Torture,
rape and murder of S. Umadevi, a young student from Nawalapitiya. The protest march that started off from
the Hindu Kovil, proceeded to the premises of the Catholic church where a public gathering was held in 2001
with Religious leaders of all faiths addressing the gathering.
S. Umadevi was abducted while she was returning from typing classes and she was just
23 years of age at the time of the incident. The campaign for justice by the people of
Nawalapitiya which was supported by the Human Rights Office that also initiated a post
card campaign, appreciated the efforts by all religious leaders and the members of the civil
society in breaking the silence in the face of such gruesome incidents. The police officers
who were delaying the investigations into the abduction, Torture, rape & murder of
Umadevi, finally were forced to initiate investigations that resulted in the arrest of 07
suspects.

The Human Rights

office stood by the
victim’s family during
the past 11 years at
each court sitting
retaining a lawyer in
the interest of the
aggrieved party and
monitoring the court
procedure by the staff of the HRO, while the organizations and the civil society members, who came forward
initially to support the victim's family, fell by the way side as the legal process took its own time, almost 11
years to finally complete it.

On the 23rd June 2013, the

children, youth and the adults
were taken separately in groups
and made aware of the need to
voice against Torture, rape,
murder & all human rights
violations and follow the
adjudication process until
justice is delivered. This was
followed by a Legal clinic.
Leaflets, in Sinhala & Tamil, highlighting the judgment of the abduction, Torture, rape & murder of S. Umadevi
were distributed to people who gathered at the church premises and also in streets of Nawalapitiya. The
Lawyers, members of the support group, the director and the staff of the Human Rights office organized the
days programme.