The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) reports that 79 suspects have died either in police custody or during arrest procedures over the past five years.
According to Commissioner and Attorney-at-Law Nimal Punchchihewa, 49 individuals died while in police custody, while 30 deaths occurred during the process of arrest.
In response to these alarming figures, Punchchihewa stated that the Commission has taken steps to issue guidelines to the police on proper procedures to be followed both during and after arrests.
He further noted that the Acting Inspector General of Police has disseminated these guidelines to all police stations across the country in the form of an official circular.
