Sriyani Silva v. Iddamalgoda, Officer In Charge, Police Station Paiyagala and Others – sllr 2003 volume 2 page 063

Brief
In the case between Sriyani Silva (the widow of the deceased M.K. Lasantha Jagath Kumara) and Iddamalgoda, Officer In Charge at Paiyagala Police Station, along with other police officers and the State, the issue concerned the alleged torture and resultant death of the deceased while in police custody, raising questions regarding the deprivation of the fundamental right to life and the scope for heirs or dependants to obtain relief under Articles 11, 13(2), 13(4), 17, and 126(2) of the Constitution. It was held that the death resulted from torture and unlawful conduct by police officers, and that constitutional remedies extend to heirs or dependants of the deceased. The decision reaffirmed the principle that fundamental rights—encompassing the right to life—can be vindicated by lawful