Mother of girl who died at Bathiudeen’s residence lodges complaint with HRC

Rajamanikkam Ranjani, the mother of J. Ilashini, the 16 -year-old girl died while working at SJB MP Rishad Bathuideen’s residence, told the media that she had been compelled to send her daughter to the MP’s house because she had no way of paying back family debt.

Ranjani said her daughter had started working at the MP’s house at the age of 15.

“My daughter called me several times and said that she was being subjected to torture and that she could not stay there. Her death is suspicious,” Ranjani said.

The girl, who was a resident at Dayagama, in Hatton, was sent to the SJB MP’s house in November 2020.

The victim’s family yesterday came to the Human Rights Commission office, in Kandy, and lodged the complaint.

“There are five girls and a boy in our family. Ilashini was the third. They said they would pay her Rs. 25,000 a month but only Rs. 20,000 was given,” she said.

Ranjani added her husband had lost his job in 2020 and they got into debt.

“We borrowed Rs. 30,000 from a broker who took Ilashini to Bathiudeen’s house. Ilashini agreed to go so that we could settle our debt. Lenders used to visit our place almost daily, demanding money.”

Ilashini set herself on fire while working at the MP’s house recently and it has been revealed that she had been sexually abused.