IGP ordered to appoint an official to supervise actions on custodial deaths

By Hemantha De Silva

Colombo, August 4 (Daily Mirror) - The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) on Friday (01) ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to appoint an official to supervise the actions taken in terms of the guidelines pertaining to the death of individuals died in custody and to submit a report in this regard on August 28.

The Commission issued this order while ordering nine police officers to pay compensation of Rs. 2.5 million to the family of Management Assistant of the Sri Lanka Vocational Training Authority Samantha Preethi Kumara who died while in the custody of the Police Anti-Narcotics Bureau.

The HRC that upheld a petition filed by the deceased’s wife T.B.Dilrukshi of Thalwatta, Hikkaduwa issued this order.

HRCSL has issued 119 guidelines in May to the police on preventing custodial deaths following a spate of custodial deaths in the recent months. During the five years between January 2020 and March 2025 HRCSL had recorded 49 deaths in police custody as well as 30 deaths due to encounters with the police. Some of these deaths have been legally challenged.

In Friday's order, SI Thilanka, SI Thiloka Nuwan, Sergeant 8824 Baladuriya, PCs, 9000 Kaluarachchi, 93682 Abhishek, 83808 Wikum Ariyasinghe, 31996 Herath, 92447 Madushan, and 61323 Sampath had been cited as respondents to the petition.

The HRC decided that the victim has been tortured to death which was a violation of his Fundamental Human Rights and ordered the IGP to hold a disciplinary inquiry against the respondent police officers.

Victim Samantha Preethi Kumara had been arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Bureau on January 10, 2023 when he stepped into an eatery to buy his lunch. However he had died in custody.