Journalist Tharindu lodges complaint against Borella Police under torture act

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

Journalist Tharindu Uduwaragedara who was arrested and assaulted during a protest march last week lodged a complaint against Borella Police yesterday under several charges that come under the torture act.   

Uduwaragedara who visited the Borella Police yesterday morning had lodged a complaint against the Borella Police with the Borella Police, saying that he was being unlawfully arrested and assaulted in custody.   
Journalist Tharindu Jayawardena who accompanied Uduwaragedara to the Borella Police told the Daily Mirror that the latter had given a three page statement in his complaint to the police.   
From the time of his arrest on Friday, July 28th afternoon until he was referred to a Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) on Saturday, July 29th evening, where he was permitted access to medical attention. Uduwaragedara had revealed the events he had undergone.   

“Uduwaragedara had lodged a complaint over several charges of unlawful arrest, assault, torture, threatening, insult and depriving of medical attention, which come under the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Act, No.22 of 1994,” Jayawardena said.   

Uduwaragedara will also lodge a complaint to the National Police Commission today regarding the incident.   

Colombo Chief Magistrate who enlarged Tharindu Uduwaragedara on bail on July 29th ordered him to appear in court again on August 29th.   

Uduwaragedara was covering a joint trade union protest organised against the IMF deal in Borella, when he was arrested by the Borella Police July 28th.