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Wrongfully detained drug suspect dies by suicide
Colombo, July 30 (Daily Mirror) - The Mount Lavinia Lawyers’ Association has raised serious concerns over wrongful detentions in drug-related cases following the death of a suspect who was posthumously cleared of all charges.
Keerthi Fernando, Secretary of the Association, told reporters that a suspect who had been wrongfully detained and later released by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court yesterday was no longer alive, having died by suicide due to the mental toll of his incarceration.
The individual had been arrested by the Dehiwala Police in May 2024 for alleged possession of 3,200 mg of heroin—a non-bailable offence under Sri Lankan law. He was remanded for three months before being granted bail by the High Court. However, two months later, he took his own life, reportedly due to the psychological stress caused by his prolonged and unjust detention.
“When the case was taken up again, the Government Analyst’s report confirmed he had not been in possession of any narcotics. The court then released him from the case. Unfortunately, by then, he was already dead,” Fernando stated.
The Magistrate’s Court also released suspects in five other drug cases filed by the Dehiwala Police due to a lack of evidence, Fernando added.
He further warned that wrongful arrests and detentions are having devastating impacts on the lives of innocent people, citing consequences such as job losses, broken families, and neglected children.
“These are not isolated incidents. We are seeing lives being ruined—irreparably—because of flawed investigations and misuse of the legal process,” he emphasized.
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