Sri Lanka Lawyer has to flee country

The renowned lawyer and human rights activist Ariyaratne received death threats so serious that he had to flee his home country of Sri Lanka. L4L provided the financial resources for his escape.

Mr. Ariyaratne has been a lawyer in Sri Lanka for more than 15 years. He acts, among others, for Right to Life, an organisation helping victims of torture, and is closely involved in the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). One of his clients, Sugath Nishanta Fernando, was the complainant in a bribery scandal against a police inspector and the claimant in a torture case against 12 police officers. As a result, Fernando was murdered in broad daylight on 20 September 2008.

After his client was killed, the death threats against Ariyaratne have increased. On 26 September 2008 he received a death threat from a anonymous caller. Ariyaratne reported this to the Sri Lanka Bar Association, who denounced the threat and called for an investigation.

On 27 January 2009, a police officer, whose name is known, uttered death threats against Ariyaratne at the police station three times. Ariyaratne filed a complaint against him. On 30 January 2009 his office went up in flames. Ariyaratne and his wife (also a lawyer) managed to escape, but countless files were lost in the fire. Only after various phone calls did the police arrive at the scene, but they refused to conduct a thorough investigation.

Attempts of the Sri Lanka Bar Association and human rights organisations to arrange protection for Ariyaratne and his family, were uneffective.

L4L helped Ariyaratne flee his country to prevent him from being murdered. In additon to financial support, L4L sent a letter to the Sri Lankan authorities on 26 February 2009 to call on them to provide protection for human rights lawyers, in order to enable them to carry our their profession unhindered.

To view a short video of the attack on Ariyaratne’s office, click here