This is an update on 10 July 2019 for readers who have been targeted by Nilantha Ilangamuwa’s criminal campaign. As stated below, law enforcement has been informed.
As Nilantha Ilangamuwa is still carrying out his malicious criminal campaign, the following article from 2017 is added to this link in order to add context:
A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission
ASIA: Mr. Nilantha Ilangmuwa’s malicious campaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AHRC-STM-101-2017
18 August, 2017
A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission
ASIA: Mr. Nilantha Ilangmuwa’s malicious campaign
Some of you would have received several emails from a blog named Sri Lanka Guardian, in the recent weeks. All these emails come from Mr. Nilantha Ilangamuwa, who lost recently his employment at the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC). Ever since, Ilangamuwa has been sending these emails. At the beginning, he was trying to pressurise the ALRC to retain his job. When he failed, he has started making a series of false and imaginary allegations against his former employer.
The Board of Directors after having carefully studied this issue has advised that all these allegations amount to a series of criminal acts published by Ilangamuwa, and further that these statements are defamatory. The Board has advised to proceed to take legal action against Ilangamuwa and his collaborators.
Complaints have been made with the Hong Kong Police on behalf of the AHRC, on the following possible criminal offenses committed by those who are engaged in publishing malicious materials against the AHRC. These offenses include: (1) access to computer with dishonest intent; (2) attempted fraud to cause the ALRC financial loss; (3) data destruction and theft. After the preliminary enquiry into the three complaints, the Hong Kong Police has informed us that the complaints are being investigated. [Update: as of 2019, further legal actions have been taken against this criminal campaign.]
Once the police complaint was filed, one of the collaborators of Ilangamuwa wrote to the AHRC, apologising for what he has written. Meanwhile we have been informed, that Ilangamuwa having been informed about the police complaint against him and his collaborator, has fled from Hong Kong on 14 August 2017.
Ilangamuwa sought the assistance of the AHRC a few years ago, claiming that he is under threat from the then Sri Lankan government, because he was working as a journalist in Sri Lanka. As a matter of protection to a person who was alleging to be persecuted, the AHRC assisted Ilangamuwa for a considerable time.
Ilangamuwa’s recent emails are a retaliation against his loss of job, and is motivated purely by revenge for the lost of his job. Ilangamuwa writes as “editor, a special correspondent, informed source etc.”, and also in the name of various imaginary entities he has created. The purpose of assuming these multiple roles is to disclaim responsibility for what he writes, since Ilangamuwa is fully aware that all allegations that have been made are fabricated, false, and imaginary and that this amounts to commission of crimes.
We are also on receipt of the copies of communications that Ilangamuwa has sent to the donors where Ilangamuwa has made allegations with the view to deprive AHRC donor support. All these have been replied to.
We regret to inform you about all these matters. However, since such a malicious campaign can have adverse impact upon those who have no understanding about the actual situation we are issuing this statement. If you hear any further about the malicious campaign against the AHRC, you could always contact us for clarification.
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The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) works towards the radical rethinking and fundamental redesigning of justice institutions in order to protect and promote human rights in Asia. Established in 1984, the Hong Kong based organization is a Laureate of the Right Livelihood Award, 2014.
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About AHRC:The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
The following statement was a contemporary response to an intense criminal campaign carried out by Mr. Nilantha Ilangamuwa and associates:
“I am not surprised by the unkindness of this report”. He further said: “Now that I have a little free time, I have asked some competent Indian lawyers to look into the matter of taking legal action against all the false allegations against me and against the Asian Human Rights Commission published by entities controlled by Nilantha Ilangamuwa”.
The Asian Human Rights Commission has learnt that another false report has been filed by Nilantha Ilangamuwa, who publishes under many different names, to the effect that the AHRC’s Executive Director Mr. Bijo Francis has stepped down due to some allegations made by the author in several of his publications. Like many of his allegations, this too is completely false. Mr. Bijo Francis is on ‘No Pay Leave’ due to the serious illness that his father has been suffering. The son’s attendance was needed in order to play a helpful role when his old father is seriously ill. It is simple human decency, and also the traditions of a society in which we live that one of the son’s duties is to attend to his parents in their old age, and particularly at times when they are physically suffering due to a serious physical illness. It is most unkind to publish this kind of completely false allegation, and it further proves that the purpose of this publication is malicious and revengeful.
Speaking from his home in Kerala, Mr. Bijo said: “I am not surprised by the unkindness of this report”. He further said: “Now that I have a little free time, I have asked some competent Indian lawyers to look into the matter of taking legal action against all the false allegations against me and against the Asian Human Rights Commission published by entities controlled by Nilantha Ilangamuwa”.
Earlier articles and statements by the AHRC :
Mr. Nilantha Ilangamuwa’s malicious campaign
Is not Nilantha Ilangamuwa a congenital liar: a personal reply by Mr. Basil Fernando
