JINHA

NEWS CENTER - Domestic workers picketed yesterday in Colombo, Sri Lanka to call for justice for the domestic worker raped by a Supreme Court judge recently.

On June 26th, Sri Lankan Supreme Court Justice Sarath Abrew violently raped Nilusha Damayanthi, a domestic worker in his home. Nilusha had to be hospitalized for a week for her severe injuries. She said that she had been repeatedly violently abused by Sarath in the past. This attack marked the fifth woman Sarath is known to have attacked, but there has been no action against the judge.

The Domestic Workers Union in Sri Lanka started a campaign against Sarath, picketing the court yesterday. Despite objections from the workers and the Sri Lankan Bar Association, Sarath continued to sit on the bench yesterday. Today, 11 days after the incident, a prosecutor announced an arrest order for Sarath. The Domestic Workers Union is calling for justice in the incident.

“This brazen attack is an opportunity for the government to send a clear message that violence against domestic workers won’t be tolerated," said a DWU spokesperson, speaking with Yasmin Gunaratnam of openDemocracy. "Women domestic workers have long been telling us about the abuse they have faced in homes, including sexual violence. There are good stories too, about workers being treated with respect, but we can’t afford to leave it to chance. Only when domestic workers have stronger legal rights will they be safe.”

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