Mother files human rights complaint after police shot at a three-wheeler in Kadawatha, injuring her son

Not only the life of a 16-year-old school student but also his sports future has been severely jeopardized by a gunshot heard around 4:00 PM on the 31st at Mahakade Junction, Kadawatha. The mother of the student, who was seriously injured in this shooting targeting a three-wheeler that disregarded police orders, filed a complaint with the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission yesterday (03) regarding the injustice done to her child.

That evening, a police team engaged in traffic duty had signaled the three-wheeler to stop. However, when the three-wheeler continued to drive forward disregarding the order, the police shot at it. Following the incident, the 17-year-old youth who drove the three-wheeler was arrested by the police, and the 16-year-old student who was traveling in the back seat of the vehicle was seriously injured by the gunshot and hospitalized. The child's mother stated to the media that the police had fired seven shots at the three-wheeler, and two of them had hit her child.

Speaking to the media after filing a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, she strongly questioned the conduct of the police. She stated that she had gone to the Gampaha Police in the morning and met with officers, where they expressed their views fairly, and then she went to the Kadawatha Police and gave her statement. In her statement, she made a serious accusation to the police regarding the use of firearms.

She stated that when a T-56 rifle is given for shooting, it should be given to someone familiar with it, and it's not right to just give it to 'madmen' to shoot indiscriminately. She also accused that even if one has to shoot, it should be at the two wheels or below the knee, but this shot was like one aimed at killing a human being. She further added that if it had been slightly off, her child's life could have ended.

The mother states that there are still metal fragments inside the body of the child who was seriously injured by the gunshot, and they have not been completely removed. Her biggest pain and concern is what will happen to her child's future.

Recalling that her child is involved in sports such as Angampora, athletics, and volleyball, she is in great uncertainty as to whether he will be able to continue them due to these injuries. She requests the Human Rights Commission and the authorities to pay attention to all these aspects and ensure justice for her child.