Marking ten years since the brutal rape and murder of 18-year-old schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vithiya in Pungudutivu, Jaffna, civil society organisations gathered in Velanai this week to demand justice and draw attention to continued violence against women across the Tamil homeland.
The protest, held at the Velanai junction, brought together members of civil society, academics, political representatives, and members of the public. Organised to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Vithiya’s murder, the demonstration also addressed the broader issue of impunity surrounding gender-based violence in the North-East.
Protesters reported that the otherwise peaceful demonstration became tense when local Sri Lankan police officers intervened and attempted to collect and record the names of those participating. Protesters firmly rejected the request, stating that while police were free to take photographs, they would not disclose their identities.
The demonstration comes after the Vavuniya High Court sentenced former Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) of the Sabaragamuwa Province, Lalith Jayasinghe, to four years of rigorous imprisonment earlier this year, for aiding the escape of a key suspect in the 2015 gang rape and murder of Vithiya.
On 20 February 2025, High Court Judge M.M. Mihar found Jayasinghe guilty of helping Mahalingam Sasikumar, also known as ‘Swiss Kumar’, evade arrest. The judge ruled that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond reasonable doubt, sentencing Jayasinghe to four years of rigorous imprisonment. He was also fined Rs. 50,000, with a further six months of imprisonment ordered should the fine go unpaid.
The court additionally issued open warrants against Sri Gajan, a former Sub-Inspector in the Crime Investigation Division of the Kytes Police, who stands accused of complicity in the crime.
Vithiya, a student at Pungudutivu Maha Vidyalayam, was abducted in May 2015 while returning home from school. She was brutally gang-raped and murdered, with her body found the next day in an abandoned house, her hands and feet bound to logs. The crime sparked widespread outrage across the Northern Province, with mass protests erupting in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, and other Tamil towns. Thousands took to the streets demanding justice and condemning the culture of impunity under Sri Lanka’s heavily militarised state.
Public anger intensified after ‘Swiss Kumar’ escaped police custody and fled to Colombo, only to be recaptured and returned to Jaffna. Jayasinghe was later accused of orchestrating the escape, deepening public distrust in Sri Lanka’s law enforcement and judicial institutions.
In 2017, a special tribunal sentenced seven men to death for their involvement in the rape and murder. This included Swiss Kumar, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit rape along with others. However, the escape of key suspects and the state’s failure to prevent misconduct during the investigation highlighted deep flaws in the Sri Lanka’s policing and judicial processes.
