Bar Association Condemns Killing Suspects Under Police Custody

May 20, 2014

The Standing Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka on Rule of Law has today condemned the brutal killing of a suspect who was under police custody.

Issuing a statement the BASL said; The Standing Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka on Rule of Law views with alarm the brutal killing of a suspect who was under police custody at Ududumbara.  This is the most recent of a series of incidents where suspects in police custody regarding the commission of serious criminal offences has been murdered without recourse to the law.  In a civilized society state custody is said to be the safest custody but it is regrettable that in our country the rule of law has reached a situation where state custody has become the most dangerous custody.  It is unthinkable that our law enforcement authorities and those responsible for administration of justice has up-to-date not even raised this as a serious issue.  The government has to be accountable for the loss of life of any person in police custody which amounts to state custody.  The government cannot forsake its responsibility for the safety of persons in its custody.

“While we condemn these illegal and inhuman actions we call upon those responsible for the administration of justice to intervene to see that rule of law prevails and that our country does not enter into an era where jungle law prevails.”