Sri Lanka: WHRD and her daughter hospitalised after being attacked by unknown men
Event- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Aug 4, 2019
- Event Description
A prominent Tamil disappearances activist and her daughter were attacked and hospitalised in Batticaloa on Sunday evening.
Amala Nayagi, the vice-president of the North East Families of the Disappeared Association and the president of the Batticaloa District Association, and her daughter were deliberately hit and knocked off their motorcycle by an oncoming motorcycle with three men.
The injured Amala Nayagi and her daughter were admitted to Karadiyanaru hospital in Batticaloa. They had been travelling to Batticaloa to attend a funeral when the attack took place.
While the attackers drove off after hitting the two, local youths attempted to chase and apprehend the three men. Although two escaped, one was caught and arrested by Karadiyanaru police.
Amala Nayagi has faced many threats over the years that she has been at the forefront of campaigning with families of the disappeared in Batticaloa. The activist said she was certain today’s attack was intended to intimidate her.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the arrested attacker was linked to a paramilitary group.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Violence (physical)
- Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Community-based HRD
- Family of HRD
- WHRD
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Event Location
Latitude: 7.736453021730526
Longitude: 81.69397397386204
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 4 August 2019, Amala Nayagi, community-based WHRD and her daughter, were attacked and injured by three unknown men riding a motorcycle in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.