Physical methods of torture and their sequelae: a Sri Lankan perspective

Methods of torture vary from country to country and sometimes within regions in the same country. Knowing torture methods used in a country or region assists in evaluating injuries, scars and other chronic sequelae of torture. Medical records of 100 victims of torture examined between 1998 and 2001 in the Judicial Medical Officer’s Office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, were perused to gather data on torture methods used in Sri Lanka during that period. Altogether 68 methods of torture had been used on these victims. They included assault with blunt and sharp weapons, burns with lighted cigarettes, ‘dry submarino’, kicking, ‘wet submarino’, ‘hanging’, electric torture, ‘falaka’ and many more. However, only 18% of victims had any physical residual effects, highlighting the typical objective of torture, which is inflicting maximum pain without causing serious injury or death.