24 suspects died in police custody last year

• The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission had received 9,417 public complaints against the police for 2023 and 44 of them referred to incidents in the Yukthiya operation

By Kamal Sri Liyanage   

Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC) has reported that 24 suspects had died in police custody last year.  Chairman of the Commission Attorney at Law Nimal Punchihewa said killing in police shootings when suspects were taken to secret locations to recover weapons had been reported frequently and that it was the responsibility of the OIC of the police station to provide protection to the suspects in custody.      

 He said that two suspects had died in police custody in the last two months.   
 He said the SLHRC had received 9,417 public complaints against the police for 2023 and 44 of them referred to incidents in the Yukthiya operation.