Colombo, Oct. 27 (Daily Mirror) - The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and all relevant authorities to conduct an immediate, impartial, transparent, and comprehensive investigation into the death of a 29-year-old suspect while in the custody of the Homagama Police Station.
The BASL, in a statement, emphasized that a death in custody is a matter of the gravest concern, and that the State has a fundamental and non-delegable duty to safeguard the life, health, and bodily integrity of every person in its custody.
The BASL maintained that any allegation of custodial violence or ill-treatment must therefore be treated with the utmost seriousness and, if established, dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.
Referring to constitutional provisions, the BASL noted that according to Article 13(4) of the Constitution, the jurisprudence of the higher judiciary affirms that deprivation of life cannot be imposed as punishment except by order of a competent court, underscoring the obligation of law enforcement authorities to ensure that the rights and dignity of persons in custody are fully protected.
In a matter involving an allegation of custodial violence, public confidence requires that no reasonable question is left unanswered and that any person responsible for wrongdoing, if established, is held accountable in accordance with the law, the BASL statement added.
The BASL letter dated October 27, 2026 had been sent under the signatures of its President Rajeev Amarasuriya and Secretary Nalin De Silva.