FAQ

The overall duties and functions of the Authority is mentioned in section 13(1) of the ASSISTANCE TO AND PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF CRIME AND WITNESSES ACT, No. 4 of 2015. Accordingly, main duties and functions of the authority can be described as follows,

• Identifying the rights and entitlements of the victims of crime and witnesses and protect or cause to be protected them.
• To conduct inquiries on alleged victimization of rights and entitlements and recommend to take necessary measures to correct the issues from relevant authorities
• Providing necessary assistance and protection to the victims of crime and Witnesses
• Making the general public and government officials aware of their rights and entitlements
• If you are someone who is harmed as a result of assisting a victim or preventing a happening of a crime
• To give recommendations regarding the necessary policies in order to create an environment where the research can be conducted to identify the measures to be taken which can minimize the Crimes and where the justice process can be successfully implemented

The relevant definition in this regard is mentioned in the section 46 of the ASSISTANCE TO AND PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF CRIME AND WITNESSES ACT, No. 4 OF 2015.
In simple terms, victim of a crime means a person or a child including any member of his/ her family, his/her child or any other person of significant importance to that person who has suffered any injury, harm, impairment or disability whether physical or mental, emotional, economic or other loss as a result of an act or omission of which creates an alleged offence under any law or infringement of a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 11 or Article 13(1) or (2) of the constitution.

A witness means a person who has provided information or lodged a complaint with any law enforcement officer and based upon such information or complaint, an investigation or inquiry could or has commenced or is likely to commence, in connection with the alleged commission of an offence or violation of human right,

• A person who has lodged a complaint or has provided information
• A person who has given a statement in such an inquiry
• A person who has provided an affidavit in support of such a complaint made or any legal action
• A person who has provided information or any communication to a commission
• A person who has reasonable grounds to believe that he shall be summoned by a Court order or a commission to make a statement or testify in any judicial or quasi- judicial proceedings against a person, based on information provided or a statement made to a law enforcement authority or a commission.
• A person who has received summons to give evidence in such a case
• A public officer who has investigated into the alleged commission of an offence or an alleged infringement of a fundamental right or the violation of a human right

All the information related to this are mentioned in section number 3,4,5,6 of the ASSISTANCE TO AND PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF CRIME AND WITNESSES ACT, No. 4 OF 2015. In brief,
When it comes to a victim, they deserve,

• The right to be treated equally, fairly and respectably
• The right to be considered as the best interest for a child victim
• The right for reparation for harm or any other injury occurred due to a crime
• The right to be protected from threats, intimidations, reprisals
• The right to be medically treated for any mental or physical injury harm, impairment or disability suffered as a victim of a crime
• The right to information regarding the progress of an investigation on a complaint made by him/herself and to know the solutions which a victim of crime can have.
• The right to have information on
  a. Release on bail
  b. Discharge of the suspect
  c. Institution of criminal proceedings against the accused
  d. The conviction, sentence or releasing of the suspect or the accused.
• The right to be treated equally, fairly and respectablyh) The right to be investigated a complaint made by he/she him/herself in an unbiased manner.
• The right to present he/she himself or herself by an Attorney at law before the court of law
• The right to file regarding a victim of impact of a crime before the court of law
• The right to seek protection from being a witness to a commission of an offence or violation of any human right

The right to be investigated in case of a violation of rights of a victim of a crime or witnesses.
The right to receive the necessary assistance and protection a victim of a crime or witness deserves.

The ability to claim a compensation or assistance for a reprisal related to an injury, physical or psychological or economic harm caused as a result of a crime.

You can obtain advices to make and submit a victim of impact of crime before the court of law by the Authority

You can contact us via phone, email, fax, snail mail, by hand and via our software in due course.

• Hotline: 1985
• Phone: 0112-2879539
• Email: witness.protection.srilanka@gmail.com
• Fax: 0112879440
• By post: National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses
  First Floor, 428/ 11A, Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Battaramulla.
• By hand: National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses First Floor, 428/ 11A, Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Battaramulla.