(COLOMBO) – The Human Rights Commission in Sri Lanka on Wednesday expressed serious concern over deaths in police custody with seven more fresh cases reported for this year alone.
“There were 24 custodial deaths throughout 2023 and this should never have been the case”, spokesman for the rights group, Attorney-at-Law Nimal Punchihewa said.
He said that the custodial deaths have been mounting despite certain strict guidelines issued to police on the treatment of suspects in their custody.
Punchihewa called on the relevant authorities to direct the police and other State security agencies to strictly abide by the guidelines issued in this regard.
Custodial deaths in the island-nation occur frequently and in almost every case the police claim that the killings were in self-defense saying the suspect or suspects had attempted to engage the officers in a fire fight.
