Sri Lanka’s first-ever prosecution via video conferencing in sexual harassment case

Last week, the Attorney General’s Department of Sri Lanka permitted the Kandy High Court to proceed with a prosecution on sexual harassment of two female travellers via video conferencing which can be considered as a milestone in the legislation field of Sri Lanka. 

On 14 April 2016, two British girls were sexually harassed in Kandy and suspect was identified by the victims at the identification process held in the Magistrate’s Court under case No. B/38162. For the suspect identification, two girls with their family members were brought down to the country by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). 

After identification, the suspect was indicted at the Kandy High Court under case 285/2017. 

Since both victims were not in a position to attend the prosecution scheduled on 23, 24 and 25 July from London at Kandy High Court and had informed of their inability to travel to Sri Lanka, the AG’s Department permitted conducting of the prosecution through video conferencing upon a request made by the British High Commission in Sri Lanka.

The suspect was charged on six counts and evidence from the second victim was obtained through a Skype video call and after completing her evidence successfully, the suspect had pleaded guilty on all charges against him.

Kandy High Court Judge Lalith Ekanayake imposed a five-year rigorous imprisonment for each charge and by considering the facts highlighted by the defence and State counsellors he was ordered to complete his 30-year sentence in five years concurrently. Further, he was charged a Rs. 3,000 fine for each and was ordered to pay Rs. 25,000 to the Victim Protection Authority of Sri Lanka. 

All the necessary diplomatic communications were arranged under the direction of DIG Crime, Organised Crimes and Legal Kamal Silva, Police Tourist Division Director Oshan Hewavitharana and Police Tourist Division Officer-In-Charge Chief Inspector Prabath Vidananagama. 

The British High Commission in Sri Lanka, High Commission of Sri Lanka in London and Commonwealth Office in London, AG’s Department of Sri Lanka and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sri Lanka together with Police Tourist Division of Sri Lanka facilitated the entire process to be handled by Kandy Police.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority as the local governing body of tourism in Sri Lanka expressed its gratitude to the Kandy Police and to everyone who handled this case successfully and appreciated the unwavering commitment and dedication of the Tourist Police Division of Sri Lanka in their efforts to make the island a safer place for tourists, especially female travellers.