SRI LANKA: Attempt to abduct student leader in white van

Dear Friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding the case of Mr. Rayan Jayalath, Convener of the Medical Faculty Students Action Committee (MFSAC) of Sri Lanka. Rayan is a medical student at the Ruhuna University, and has played a pivotal role in organizing the peoples’ movement against privatizing free education in Sri Lanka. On 20 July 2017, while he was participating in a meeting on Peoples’ Action Against Establishing Private Medical Colleges, several plain clothed persons tried to abduct him and drag him to a white van. Fortunately his fellow activists managed to prevent this. Later, the police accepted that the abductors were officers of the Colombo Criminal Division, but gave no explanation for their illegal behavior.

Case Narrative:

Rayan Jayalath is the Convener of the Medical Faculty Students Action Committee (MFSAC) of Sri Lanka. He is a medical student at the Ruhuna University. Rayan is a widely known activist and highly respected among political and civil movements.

On 20 July 2017, Rayan participated in a meeting co-organized by the Movement against Private Medical College (SAITAM). It was held at the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA) of Sri Lanka, Cinnamon Garden Police Division.

At 5 p.m. after the meeting, Rayan and several other activists and political party leaders were waiting to return to their houses and workplaces. Suddenly, a group of unruly persons penetrated into the OPA premises, and tried to drag Rayan out of the building premises. The abductors were in civilian clothes and did not behave like officers attached to any law enforcement agency. They did not talk to Rayan or any other participants there, and did not explain why they are trying to abduct Rayan. They did not show any document relating to any sort of official duty.

The fellow participants held several of the abductors and questioned their behavior. They learnt that the men had come to abduct Rayan and bring him to a white van parked near the premises, bearing the number NA-0410.

Then the activists immediately published the number of the vehicle and the faces of the abductors to various local and international media, condemning the abduction attempt on a student activist.

Within fifteen minutes, several uniformed policemen arrived at the place and requested the activists to release the abductors. The policemen explained that the abductors belong to the Colombo Criminal Division (CCD).

The activists questioned why the officers came in civilian clothes, why they did not reveal their identity, why their vehicle does not have official police insignia on it, and why they used force and tried to dragged Rayan when everybody in the meeting place was behaving in a very peaceful manner.

Later the police headquarters’ media communique accepted the fact that a group of officers tried to arrest Rayan, but no other questions were answered.

According to Rayan, this was an attempt on his life by the police officers. He further states that abductions are made instead of lawfully arresting people, to cover up their illegal activities of disappearances.

Background information:

Rayan is playing a pivotal role in organizing and mobilizing students and the general public against privatizing the Free Education Scheme in Sri Lanka. As a part of this, Rayan is leading the movement against the establishing of private medical colleges in Sri Lanka against the conditions and guidelines set out by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC).

The movement’s main demand was abolishing the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) in Colombo, which was built, established and maintained by a private investor. It has been established as an institution providing courses for medical education. However, after examination by experts, the SLMC submitted a report to the government and the country’s superior courts, that the institution has not fulfilled the necessary qualifications to be standardized as a medical college.

This led to a huge protest by hundreds of thousands of people, demanding that the government protect the standards of medical education, and the medical profession.

Suggested Action:

Please send letters to the authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case and requesting an immediate investigation into the attempted abduction of a student activist by police officers, and the prosecution of those proven to be responsible. The officers involved must also be subjected to internal investigations for the breach of the department orders as issued by the police department.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER