Deaths of two suspects in police custody: Bar Association urges IGP to launch inquiry

• Calls for preventive measures against future encounter killings and custodial deaths

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday announced  that extrajudicial killings could never be a solution to addressing the  rise in criminal activity and that crime could be best curbed when the  State adhered to the rule of law.  

The BASL is urging the Acting Inspector General of Police  to promptly initiate an impartial inquiry into the circumstances  surrounding the deaths of the two individuals at the hands of the Police  and to take all necessary steps to prevent similar incidents of  encounter killings and custodial deaths in the future.  

 Issuing a statement regarding the killing of two suspects  while in police custody and killing of a suspect inside a courtroom, the  BASL strongly reiterated the need for the Police to take all necessary  action against officers who are responsible for the culture of custodial  deaths and extrajudicial killings to ensure that such incidents are  eradicated from society.  

On February 21, two suspects were shot by the Police whilst  in custody, allegedly during a confrontation. It is alleged they were  involved in a killing which occurred earlier that night in Kotahena.  

“The BASL regrets to note that similar encounter killings  have occurred in the past without proper investigation, and no  meaningful action has been taken to bring the culprits to justice. This  inaction on the part of the law enforcement authorities has led to  allegations of a climate of impunity on the part of the State. Such  failures have resulted in the administration of justice being called  into question and a significant loss of public confidence in its  efficacy,” the BASL statement added.  

The BASL’s statement was signed by its President, Anura Meddegoda, PC, and Secretary, Chathura Galhena.