July 03, Colombo (LNW): Over the past five years, 49 individuals have died whilst in custody, sparking serious concern over law enforcement practices and institutional accountability.
The figures were disclosed by Human Rights Commissioner Nimal Punchihewa during a media briefing held in Colombo yesterday (02).
According to Commissioner Punchihewa, 30 of these deaths reportedly occurred during confrontations involving police officers. In total, 79 custodial deaths have been recorded between 2020 and 2025, raising urgent questions about the use of force and the safeguarding of detainees’ rights.
A number of these incidents bear signs of severe mistreatment, with some cases pointing to torture whilst in detention, he revealed. “Misconduct by a few individuals has cast a long shadow over entire institutions,” Punchihewa remarked, noting that trust in public bodies is being eroded by the actions of a minority.
He also criticised the way certain arrests are officially documented, highlighting a disturbing trend where individuals are taken into custody on vague or unsubstantiated grounds. “Labelling arrests as being based on ‘suspicion’ without concrete evidence undermines the principle of justice,” he warned.
Punchihewa further stressed that every individual holds the fundamental right to remain politically neutral and to report wrongdoing without fear of retribution. He expressed concern that fear of harm or backlash discourages citizens from reporting crimes or providing information to authorities, thereby weakening the foundations of public cooperation with law enforcement.
Calling for comprehensive reforms and greater transparency, the Commissioner urged authorities to ensure that every arrest is legally justified and that mechanisms are put in place to prevent further abuse.
The situation, he emphasised, reflects the need to restore public confidence and uphold the dignity of all citizens, regardless of whether they are in custody or not.
