12. In this Act. unless the context otherwise requires" " Convention " means the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment signed in New York on December 10, 1984; " public officer " means a person who holds any paid office under the Republic ; " torture" with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, means any act which causes severe pain, whether Physical or mental, to any other person, being an net which is"
| (a) done for any of the following purposes that is to say"
| | (i) obtaining from such other person or a third person, any information or confession; or | | |
| | (ii) punishing such other person for any act which he or a third person has committee, or is suspected of having committed ; or | | |
| | (iii) intimidating or coercing such other person or a third person ; or | | |
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| (b) done for any reason based on discrimination, |
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and being in every case, an act which is done by, or at the initiation of, or with the consent or acquiescence of, a public officer or other person acting in an official capacity. |
Sri Lanka Consolidated Acts