Family cries foul after 29-year-old dies in police detention

Daily Mirror and Newswire report that the Officer-in-Charge of the Crimes Division at Homagama Police was arrested in connection with a suspect’s death in police custody. Daily Mirror identifies the arresting unit as the Western Province South Divisional Crimes Division, while Newswire calls it the Western Province South Crime Investigation Division. Newswire reports that the officer had been interdicted following the death.

Newswire reports that the deceased was a young man who died in Homagama Police custody. WhatNews (සිංහල) says he was 29 and died in a cell at the Homagama headquarters police station; this update does not identify him. Newswire reports that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa called for an independent inquiry and said police were responsible for the safety and well-being of people in their custody.

Newswire reports that the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka began an inquiry on its own initiative after media reports and two complaints from the deceased’s relatives. The Commission visited Homagama Police Station and the relatives’ homes to gather information and record statements. Newswire says the Commission’s preliminary findings indicated that the officers involved appeared not to have followed its guidelines on the treatment of suspects.

Newswire reports that the Commission summoned the officers concerned to appear at 1:30 p.m. on October 29, 2026, and decided to obtain the official post-mortem report from the medical officer who conducted the examination. Newsfirst reports that the Homagama station chief and Crimes Division chief were summoned, while Hiru News (සිංහල) reports that three people were called. Newswire says the Commission will issue its final determination after completing the inquiry.

Newswire reports that the Commission’s review of complaints found 49 deaths in police custody between January 2020 and March 31, 2025, and 30 deaths following confrontations with police after arrest. Newswire says the Commission had previously prepared suspect-treatment guidelines after consulting the Inspector General of Police and distributed them to police stations through an official circular. The Commission reiterated that people in custody must be treated according to human rights standards and its directives.

Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.