The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has expressed concerns over the rising number of complaints against police officers, particularly regarding allegations of torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, harassment, and inaction on complaints.
In response, the HRCSL recently held a high-level dialogue to address these critical human rights issues related to the Sri Lanka Police. The meeting was attended by the HRCSL Chairman and commissioners, senior HRCSL officials, the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Deputy IGP – Legal, the Director of the Human Rights Division of the Sri Lanka Police, and the Director – Legal, Sri Lanka Police.
During the discussion, the HRCSL acknowledged ongoing efforts under the new police administration to address these concerns, including capacity building, institutional restructuring, and the adoption of new techniques and equipment. Specific attention was given to the Special Investigation Unit of the Sri Lanka Police, which handles cases of law enforcement officers accused of torture and enforced disappearance.
The HRCSL also raised concerns about the low prosecution and conviction rates for such offenses, as well as the rights of human rights defenders, particularly regarding their ability to organize peaceful protests against government policies.
Additionally, the HRCSL highlighted the need for better representation of women within the Sri Lanka Police and the inclusion of Tamil-speaking officers in specific regions, noting that these issues would be addressed in future recruitment efforts.
The Acting IGP confirmed that Sri Lanka Police had initiated proceedings under the Torture Act of 1994 in response to torture allegations and agreed to issue an advisory to police officers regarding section 26 of the HRCSL Act, which protects HRCSL officers from legal action.
