Sri Lanka: lawyer and activist attacked
Event- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Dec 17, 2012
- Event Description
Alleged attack on human rights defender. According to the information received, on 17 December 2012, Mr. Gunaratne Wanninayaka was attacked outside his home by four unknown individuals carrying assault rifles. Mr. Wanninayaka managed to escape and enter his house, while the armed individuals followed him and attempted unsuccessfully to gain entry to his residence. Mr. Wanninayaka is a high-profile campaigner for the independence of the judiciary in Sri Lanka and is President of the Colombo Magistrate's Court Lawyers Association. He was at the forefront of a recent campaign opposing the impeachment of a Supreme Court judge.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Violence (physical)
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Event Location
Latitude: 6.931879889517332
Longitude: 79.90356445312482
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 17 December 2012, Mr. Gunaratne Wanninayaka, a high-profile campaigner for the independence of the judiciary in Sri Lanka and President of the Colombo Magistrate's Court Lawyers Association, was attacked by four men carrying assault rifles near his home in Colombo. The attack is possibly linked to his activism against the impeachment of a Supreme Court judge.