Three Sri Lankans expelled by Australia were jailed and tortured after being returned to their home country, Amnesty International alleged Friday.
Two of the men, Sumith Mendis and Lasantha Wijeratne, were sent to a hospital Wednesday following the alleged mistreatment at the hands of Sri Lankan authorities, the rights group said. The status of the third man wasn't clear.
Authorities said the men were being held for their involvement in a people-smuggling operation. They had been denied refugee status by Australia in 2009.
"This is an appalling situation that calls into question the actions of both the Sri Lankan and Australian governments," Madhu Malhotra, Amnesty International's deputy director for Asia, said in a release.
"Both governments are culpable in the forced return and mistreatment these men have endured, and both must bear responsibility for the results of their policies and procedures.
"The Sri Lankan authorities must ensure that all three men are not subject to any more torture or ill-treatment, either at the hands of the [Central Investigative Department] or prisoners or guards in Negombo prison. The Australian government must re-examine its claims that asylum seekers returned to countries they are fleeing from are not subjected to torture and mistreatment."
UPI
Indika Mendis (brother of Sumith Mendis) is the third man
Two of the men, Sumith Mendis and Lasantha Wijeratne, were sent to a hospital Wednesday following the alleged mistreatment at the hands of Sri Lankan authorities, the rights group said. The status of the third man wasn't clear.
Authorities said the men were being held for their involvement in a people-smuggling operation. They had been denied refugee status by Australia in 2009.
"This is an appalling situation that calls into question the actions of both the Sri Lankan and Australian governments," Madhu Malhotra, Amnesty International's deputy director for Asia, said in a release.
"Both governments are culpable in the forced return and mistreatment these men have endured, and both must bear responsibility for the results of their policies and procedures.
"The Sri Lankan authorities must ensure that all three men are not subject to any more torture or ill-treatment, either at the hands of the [Central Investigative Department] or prisoners or guards in Negombo prison. The Australian government must re-examine its claims that asylum seekers returned to countries they are fleeing from are not subjected to torture and mistreatment."
UPI
Indika Mendis (brother of Sumith Mendis) is the third man
