The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has issued general guidelines and recommendations to the police aimed at preventing deaths in custody and during police confrontations.
These guidelines, outlined in General Guidelines and Recommendations No. 1 of 2025, were released following investigations into complaints received by the Commission.
Between January 2020 and March 31, 2025, the HRCSL recorded 49 deaths in police custody and 30 deaths during encounters with law enforcement officers.
HRCSL Chairman Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya stated that the guidelines were developed in response to these concerning incidents.
He stressed the importance of police adherence to these recommendations to ensure the effective implementation of the guidelines and to uphold human rights standards.
