Thirteen Year Old Girl Raped By 13 Men
By Niranjala Ariyawansa
At the tender age of 13 years she left her home at Hakmana and came to Tangalle to escape from an uncle who repeatedly raped her. Not only did he rape her but also threatened her that she will be killed if she informed her parents about his activities. He also forced her to leave home because he feared that he would be exposed. She may have ultimately decided to leave her home as she was threatened with death and she wanted to escape from this harrowing experience. But this was only the beginning of a more pathetic story.
On June 3, she was inTangalle, which is 25 kilometers away from her home. By this time this girl who had lived with her parents through fear of threats from her uncle who had raped her ran away from home and overnight became a young girl loitering in an unknown city. To all those who showed her any sympathy, her request has been to find her some sort of employment. As a result they had taken her to Ruwan Textiles, the largest textile shop in Tangalle. There was a notice at the front indicating that Sales Girls are required. But she did not know that to escape from the storm she was walking into a vast ocean.
45 year old Harshana was the owner of Ruwan Textiles. He agreed to give employment to this abandoned girl. Next day was Poson Poya and Harshana with a number of other business friends was making preparations to have an Ice Cream Dansala.
After they finished the Dansala on June 5, they organized a party at Namal Guest House & Restaurant in Medilla which is located about 1km away from Tangalle town. At this party where most of the rich businessmen of Tangalle were present, this 13 year old girl became their victim.
This girl was sexually abused by seven men for three days at this hotel. The abusers were 45 year old Harshana – owner of Ruwan Textiles, owner of Nilupul Stores who is believed to be about 60 years – Chandana, the owner of Shehan Guest House - Dimuthu Muthukumarana, Coordinating Secretary to the Minister of Disaster Management - Pradeep, a retail shop owner, youngest son of Sampath, a fish seller, Anjana and Lalith. They had also taken her to other hotels in Tangalle where she was sexually assaulted by many. She has been transported to these places by Raja in his three wheeler.
After six days of inhuman sexual abuse and assault by these men, she has been handed over to the Tangalle Police by a person from Rekawa. When he was about to leave, the girl had told the Police that he is the last person who abused her. After that he has revealed the names of others. Within the last three weeks 9 out of 13 men who were responsible for this crime has surrendered to the Tangalle police.
First three has surrendered to the Police through Krishantha Punchihewa, a lawyer in Tangalle. Later the other suspects, except the youngest son of Sampath, have also surrendered to the police through the same lawyer. Altogether 9 persons have been produced in court and remanded. Four suspects are still in hiding.
The girls who is in a critical condition is receiving medical care under the National Child Protection Authority and with the consent of her parents.
Our attempts to get more information from Mr. Kalinga Silva, OIC of Tangalle Police station was not successful. Instead we spoke to C. Wedisinghe, Superintendent of Police in charge of Hambantota. He directed us to Mr. Jayalath Balagalle, ASP Mr. Balagalle informed us that he does not know anything about this and directed us to Mr. Nandana Wijeratna, ASP in charge of this investigation. When we spoke to Nandana Wijeratna he stated that he is unable to give any information and directed us to the PoliceSpokesman.
However an officer at Tangalle police, who did not want to be named, told us that since Tangalle is the hometown of President Mahinda Rajapaksa it has been prohibited to release any information as it may be a slur on the president.
The United Front member of the Tangalle Pradeshiya Saba, who did not want to be named told us since all the remanded suspects are rich businessmen in Tangalle the whole incident will be swept under the carpet. Further, since the girl is from another area nobody is taking any initiative to organize a protest. People at Tangalle also fear that they may have to face repercussions from these wealthy businessmen, should they do so.
According to the Pradeshiya Saba member, more than 13 had joined this seriese of sex abuse. However her uncle who raped her first is still at large with four more suspects.
“Police Must Immediately Arrest The Uncle Of This Child…” – Prof. Harendra Silva, Former Chairman, National Child Protection Authority
“This is the future of the country. Howmany such incidents happened at Tangalle? On the one hand we must educate our children, when such abuse takes place to inform the parents without feeling shy or go before the law enforcement authorities.
On the other hand there are vultures who are waiting to catch these children. Even by giving a minimumof 10 years imprisonment for child abuse has not reduced these incidents. Reason is the poor law enforcement. Those who indulge in these activities know that these could be swept under the carpet by the power of money or politics. You can even buy the police officers. These businessman from Tangalle also must be thinking like that. I want to request the judges not to grant them bail and to impose maximum punishment.
The Police must first of all arrest the uncle of this girl. We cannot allow any body to ruin this girls’s future. The schools and the society corner these children. But it is these criminals who should be cornered from society. We must give the maximum protection and education to these children.”
Harendra is talking waffle. Unless the children can be looked after, the parents should not have children. You need to find other ways to have fun. Then the children who are there must be looked after by their parents. Don’t trust your van drivers and uncles. It is hard, times are tough but children somehow have to be protected by their own parents because the law is shambles and the police is a total disgrace.
what has happened to this peaceful beautiful country. principles of budhism are completly ignored and politicians are wipping up buddhist fanaticism to get votes.
Well – what happened to the Pradeshiya Council Chairman, who was accused of raping a russian tourist and killing her partner, a British citizen?
These bastatrds who perpitrated this crime on an innocent girl should be brought to book and key thrown away.
These people may get away scot free with the help of their equally corrupt politician friends but Kamma will never leave them. I wish that their daughters , wives, sisters, mothers and even sons should get raped so that they can experience the pain.
l am shocked,what happened to our country?
Need to bring the hang men back soon.
This is a disgrace. Authorities should take a stand and ensure all these criminals are punished and it should be made so public that it will send the right message to the community. Public stoning or some brutal punishment should take place and it will show all the other child abusers what will be at stake. What are our leaders doing. I hope some organisation will take this girl under their wing and support her in the coming years.
Wedak neh beeri alinta weena gahanawa wage.If the B/B wants to eradicate crimes from the country, he must start from his own electorate.
Hope most of these rich Mudalalis are the friends of Rajapaksa family. If so, nothing to worry, there wont be any charges for them, and will be freed early. Now Hambantota/Tangalle has been the most corrupt district which is led by the most corrupt family in the Island.
Where has law and order gone? Subha Anagathyak?
We are the kings men,
and we will do as we want.
Police or Law is no Bar,
for we are the Kings Men
Thats who we are.
Talking big about Sinhala Buddhism, no liquor on Poya days and this is what they can do !!! Dam shame on you lankans!! Soon going to another somalia!!
Horrible. I still can’t believe there are lots of heartless people living in Sri-Lanka. Sri-Lanka must introduce severe punishment like in the Gulf countries to protect our women folk and the children. All these 13 scoundrels deserve death punishment. I really feel sorry for this unfortunate girl.
WHILE BUDDHIST PRIESTS SHOULD BE PREACHING AND PRACTICING GOOD MORALS, THEY ARE PLAYING POLITICS, MAKING MONEY , INDULGING IN SEXUAL OFFENCES
THIS IS EXACTLY WHY THAT WIJEDASA RAJAPAKSE WANTS THEM OUT OF POLITICS.
THE JHU IS CHALLENGING HIM FOR OPEN DEBATE.
THE ONLY INSTANCE OF AN MP HAVING HIS PRIVATE PARTS MANHANDLED WAS WHEN IT HAPPENED TO A VENEREAL MONK M.P.
What a sad story!!
The president should ensure that, all these criminals are convicted, if he wants the respect of the Sri Lankan public.
Let’s assume there exists no law. Does it mean the crooked a55 men can do such sinful acts? It’s all power, greedy and selfishness of country men. What they want is more and more.
whether it is MR’s place any tom’s place no body is above the law , why not death sentence to this henious crime , no body is above the law , if MR did he too should get the punishment , simple mathematics , did those got involved think that like-wise this girl , their mother , sister , wife , daughter was in this same position one time , before sleeping with this girl did they ever thought that somebody would have done to either four of their family , this is what we say , alcohol and pig meat causes animal act .
one thing to remember , adultery is form of debt , one’s family has to pay this in one’s life time or after his death , either his mother , sister , wife or daughter . another person is going to sleep with either one of the four mentioned above .
Dirty bastards, lower than animals! Throw them in jail and throw away the key!
This happens only in third world poverty stricken SL where animals not humans live. There is no law and order in SL, so even tourists have stopped coming. This girl’s life is pretty much over thanks to the wild animals that live in this cave called SL. These animals will be free to roam the jungle again hunting their next victim thanks to the corrupt lawlessness in this hell hole.
Since the days of inhuman terror for over thirty years many people in Sri Lanka have descended in their morality and civic consciousness to the depths of absolute depravity. This is possibly only ‘the tip of the iceberg’ of such instances in Sri Lanka. The ENTIRE armamentarium of the Law enforcement process MUST be fully activated and ALL the culprits brought to book. It should matter MOST to have this done without any delay at all especially so as it is supposed to be the President’s own electorate. To have these conniving heathens walking the streets WILL be a slur on the President IF they are allowed to go unpunished. The Police must know this for sure, not the contrary, of sweeping such matters ‘under the carpet’ which would be undeniably utterly simplistic. The authorities need to act fast and bring these inhuman people to book and ensure the Courts system unleashes their FULL punitive force with the MAXIMUM deterrent punishment for EACH and EVERY person involved. Let there be lessons learned and justice SEEN to be done NOW. If nothing is done, for sure THAT will be an utter insult to the President. Let the Police know that. The thinking processes of some in the Police apparently also need to be properly re wired to do the RIGHT thing. Sri Lanka’s Police Force is basically good and very hard working trying to do their best, but they need NOT fear to act justly on behalf of victims of such despicable crimes. AG
These are not human beings and should be treated as such. They are rabid and should be put down. We know that they will be released as there will be no “witnesses” or “evidence” as these cases go. The president will not intervene either – who is this girl to him? Just another nobody. I request all the people in Tangalle to boycott the establishment of these scum as a mark of protest. No right thinking human will patronize their places of business.
ALL THESE ARE PEOPLE CONNECTED TO THE KING AND IN HIS AREA.
HAMBANTOTA WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY NOT FOR HARBOURS
AIRPORTS AND STADIUMS, BUT FOR A FAMILY THAT DESTROYED THIS COUNTRY. .DO NOT WORRY THERE WILL BE DIVINE RETRIBUTION
SOON. THEY WILL DESTROY THEMSELVES TOO.
What sick people. They are the lowest of the low. This child has gone through so much. They should be given the highest punishment possible, and made to suffer the consequences of this horrific crime. Knowing the disgusting system here in Sri Lanka, most probably a few calls from the higher ups in this country may set them free.
Prof Silvas comment is perfect ,we as elders must get togeather and help this innocent girl to give the protection and good education for anycost i sujjest Leader paper to start fund for this girl’s future. I hope many kind hearted will support
I fully agree with Prof. Harendra Silva.
These high society (sic) men should be exposed and severely punished to teach a lesson to the many Distinguised, Honourable ,High class Rapists living among the society.We trust that your esteemed paper will not let this episode be swept under the carpet.
Thks,
In publick must punised it is low of Islam if it hide you are going to carage to do such Illigal very hamful sin for human been LOrd Buddah mention Kameesu bicha chara veera manee sikkapadan samadayame where only pry in frant of Statues? where Niwana? Low of Islam is correct Each victims !00 Laches back sid in frant of Publick
Will see what will be going to happend Law of Quran ,Allah no body can escape even lord Buddah evenMohamed Budda and flowers Before die and afterdie,Whoe are handling thise case give proper panisment if not no need to worry aftrdie 70000/ more than get panish acording to quran 1 panishment periot lenth 2700 years Karuma Chakrraya
WHO SAID THEY PRACTICE BUDDHISM IN SRI LANKA.
WHERE DID THE BUDDHA ASK HIS FOLLOWERS TO BUILD STATUES AND WORSHIP HIM.?
HE SHOWED A “WAY” TO SAVE ONESELF.-THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH. “NAMING BAUDDHAYO, KRIYAVEN SATHVAYO”
I wish they catch these criminals and slice them inch by inch.
Sadly this is not surprising in Rajapakistan. Our beautiful SL has gone from bad to worse ever since this disgraceful family from down south came to power by foul means. Obviously they are not good buddhists & are a disgrace to humanity.
Conspiracy to tarnish Lanka’s image !! – That’s what we are going to hear from the Government spokesperson.
Randy, when was SL beautiful? It is a third world under developed country full of rapists and murderers. You call this beautiful?
Foolish randy do u knw most of these ppl r like you. This is in every society including ur society bus little in south region. These type of things are basically doing by uneducated rich ppl like you. So its better to educate da society. Moosalayo hama ekatama presidenta banala hariyan na. Mokak wunath thopi wage un wasi gannai hadanne.
Can someone anyone give me shotgun with 14 bullets please!…. so what is the future of the innocent what becomes of her?
DO NOT WASTE BULLETS.USE A CATAPULT.
DAVID KILLED GOLIATH WITH A CATAPULT!!!!!!!!!!!
the sunday leader, meaning.is god,we look your news.
What our Children future?
THINK OF THE PRESENT, NOT THE FUTURE.
LET US DO SOMETHING.BUT THEN WE SRI LANKANS HAVE NO BACK-BONE AND ARE BLOODY COWARDS.
GOOD TO SIT IN LIVING ROOMS AND CRITICIZE AND GET TO LAP-TOPS AND MAKE COMMENTS.EXACTLY WHAT I TOO AM DOING.
RISE UP MY COUNTRY MEN.!!!!!!!!!!!! IF YOU LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND TO
ENSURE A FUTURE FOR OUR PROGENY.
This is the same thing that has come to Colombo, When the Tangalle People came to Colombo. This would have been the life of New Rich who were living in paverty and frastrtion in there child age. Athurities still support the wrong doers with the Police.
TANGALLE PEOPLE ARE RULING THIS COUNTRY AND THE POLICE ARE UNDER THEM.
WAKE UP!!!! IT IS THE PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY WHO EXTEND THEIR SUPPORT AND PATRONAGE TO THE CRIMINALS.
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN DUMINDA? WHAT ACTION TAKEN?
THE RULING FAMILY VISITED HIM IN HOSPITAL IN SINGAPORE.
WAKE UP MY COUNTRYMEN, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE
It is a wonder this child has survived this sexual onslaught by so many, some who may be fathers of children of this same tender age. Looks like Tangalle is fast becoming a town of lustful ‘sickos’. ‘
This is because the god fathers base is around that area. All criminals are powerful and many are in local councils with the blessings of the god father….. killings of new yrs eve, Katuwana, rapes are a testimony….
court should give the highest punishment and shouldnt grant bails..
this really a disaster cuz ppl jst rape innocent children not only girls but also innocent boys may be their victims
Those ppl vanish culture and the traditions of this great island
Finally i should say dont they have wifes to have sex with
court should give the highest punishment and shouldnt grant bails..
this really a disaster cuz ppl jst rape innocent children not only girls but also innocent boys may be their victims
Those ppl vanish culture and the traditions of this great island
Finally i should say dont they have wifes to have sex with j
A test for accountability of the regime is if the local politician is tried fairly and jailed if convicted. Knowing how the regime works he will be found innocent and made an MP.
I fully agree with Prof Harendra Silva and Meena. These inhuman yakkas should be bobbit and live with a lifeless cock.
These cads should be given the highest punishment possible. Mr. President, it is from your electorate. So instruct the police to dig deeper into these and find out more of these rapist. There may be hundreds more and there maybe hundreds who are unknown victims.
God Bless Sri Lanka!
so is this your great Buddhist island of Dhammadvipa?
Atleast its a consolation that the names have being published,these brutes should be given public punishment.our laws have gone to the dogs.had such a lot of hopes when MR became president,but he has gone power crazy