Supreme Court rules police violated rights of LRRP group

Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the fundamental rights of five members involved in undercover operation known as Long Range Reconnaissance Petrol (LRRP), had been violated by the police team led by ASP Kulasiri Udugampola. This police team raided an army safe house at Millennium City, Athurugiriya in January 2002, amidst the protest of the Army commander. The police team comprised of CI M A E Mahendra, IP M M B J Mohottigoda and SI R A P Dharmaratne.

The petitioners of this case were Cpt S H M Nilam, P Ananda Udalagama, H M Nissanka Herath, I Edirisinghe and Mohamed Hilmy. The court determined that fundamental rights – freedom from torture, right to equality, freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention of the petitioners were violated.

The court awarded Rs 800,000.00 to each petitioner as compensations and costs. Rs 750,000.00 of this will be payable by the state and the balance will be payable by ASP Udugampola in his personal capacity. 29 patriotic intelligence operators had already been murdered by the LTTE because of this exposure. The lives of the petitioners and their immediate family members are also under threat of the LTTE.


(30 January, 2004)