Three Homagama Police officers suspended over suspect’s death in custody

Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka Mirror and Newswire report that the Officer-in-Charge of the Homagama Police Crimes Division was arrested in connection with a man’s death in police custody. Daily Mirror says officers from the Western Province South Divisional Crimes Division made the arrest, while Newswire identifies the unit as the Western Province South Crime Investigation Division.

Newswire reports that the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka opened an inquiry on its own initiative after media reports and two complaints from the deceased man’s relatives. Newswire says commission officers visited Homagama Police Station and relatives’ homes to gather information and record statements. It reports that preliminary findings indicated officers appeared not to have followed the commission’s guidance 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 doctor who performed the examination. Newsfirst reports that those summoned were the Homagama Police OIC and the Crimes Division OIC. Newswire says the commission will make its final determination after completing its inquiry.

Newswire reports that the commission’s records show 49 deaths in police custody between January 2020 and March 31, 2025, and 30 deaths in confrontations with police following arrest. Newswire says the commission had developed suspect-treatment guidelines in consultation with the Inspector General of Police and circulated them to police stations. It also reports that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa called for an independent investigation.

Sri Lanka Mirror reports that three officers attached to Homagama Police Station, including the Crimes Division OIC, had their duties suspended. Sri Lanka Mirror also reports that Magistrate Rajinda Jayasuriya directed the Colombo South Crimes Division to expedite its inquiry and bring suspects before the court; the direction came during a hearing on a motion filed by the deceased man’s relatives and civil society organisations.