E/CN.A/1990/17 page 43 Sri Lanka 139. On 19 July 1989 the Special Rapporteur addressed a letter to the Government of Sri Lanka transmitting information alleging that the practice of torture of prisoners continued to be widespread in many parts of the country. Torture was allegedly inflicted on prisoners while they were being kept incommunicado for long periods of time, both by the security forces operating in the south of the country and by the Indian Peace keeping Force (1PKF) operating in the northeast. There were several cases of death of detainees, allegedly as a result of torture. According to the reports, the methods of torture used by the Sri Lanka security forces included beating on sensitive parts of the body, hanging by the thumbs and other forms of suspension and forcing chili powder into the anus, the penis and the mouth. The following cases of alleged torture by members of the Sri Lanka security forces were reported: (a) Dr. Athula Sumathipala, a doctor at Ward Place Private Hospital, Colombo, was abducted on 19 July 1988 and presumably taken to Welikade police station, where he was allegedly tortured during the first few days of his detention. It was reported that a medical examination conducted on the order of the Supreme Court found evidence to support the alleged torture; (b) Gamaralalage Samanthilaka, a 16-year-old girl, was taken into custody on or about 9 March 1988, following the arrest of her two brothers. She was held at Gampaha police station, where she was allegedly tortured in front of one of her brothers, Sugath Kamalasiri, and was forced to watch him being tortured. The purpose of her torture was apparently to force her to give information about the activities of her two brothers and some of their friends. The girl was reportedly released on 11 February 1989. She filed a complaint alleging that she had been tortured; (c) Me.dduma Arachchilage don Preethisiri, a student at the University of Colombo, was arrested on 2 February 1988 at Mahawa by police officers from Mahawa, Gokarella and Kurunegala police stations. On 10 March 1988 relatives were able to visit him at Kurunegala police station. He bore evident marks of torture and told hi6 relatives that he had been assaulted by the police at Gokarella and Kurunegala. 140. It was further reported that detainees were frequently beaten by members of the IPKF and that electric shock treatment was often inflicted on prisoners during interrogation. One such case was that of Nadarasa Muraliharan, aged 19, a day-labourer, of Bharathy Veethy, Kamparmalai, who was arrested on 15 February 1989 by the IPKF, taken to their camp at Udupiddy and allegedly subjected to torture when he denied involvement in any anti-Government activities. Torture allegedly included beating, pouring water through the nose and application of electric shocks to the genitals. He wa6 eventually released after it was established that he had not been involved in any subversive activities. On 16 February 1989 he had to be admitted to Valvettiturai hospital with multiple contusions and a fractured right leg, and in spite of prolonged treatment in government hospitals he was now allegedly permanently disabled as a result of the torture. 141. According to the information received, the following persons had died in custody, allegedly as a result of torture: