BASL condemns killing of suspect in Police custody, holds IGP accountable

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has condemned the killing of a suspect in custody and called upon the Inspector General of Police to issue an explanation over the failure to protect the deceased.

On the night of Thursday, Sanjaya Ariyadasa Attorney-at-Law contacted BASL President Saliya Peiris to inform him that he had instructions that a client by the name of h.L. Lasantha alias Tinkering Lasantha had been apprehended by the officers of the Kalutara Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau and that he had information that his client would be killed in custody by the Police under the pretext of it happening during a shootout whilst being taken to show weapons.

Immediately thereupon, the BASL President informed the same to the IGP via email and text message. he further informed the Commissioner of the human Rights Commission (HRCSL) in charge of Inquiries and Investigations as well as the Director Inquiries and Investigations of the Commission.

As an additional measure, the BASL President also informed Northern Province Governor Jeewan Thiyagarajah who also heads the Consortium of humanitarian Agencies (CHA) of this information. The HRCSL and Thiyagarajah confirmed that they had contacted the authorities and informed them of the complaint and requested them to intervene to ensure the safety of the suspect, the BASL said in a statement.

However, last morning media reported that the suspect had been shot dead while being taken to recover a hidden weapons cache.

“Once again, the Sri Lanka Police is involved in an incident which has the hallmarks of an extra judicial killing. This killing comes at a time that Sri Lanka’s human rights record is under scrutiny and there are threats of consequences to the country and its economy as a result of the deteriorating human rights situation,” said a BASL statement.

The fact that not only the BASL, but also the hRCSL and a senior figure from the executive, had reached out to the Police to prevent such a grave violation and that the killing occurred despite such interventions, are matters of very grave concern. “The Police appear to continue to pay scant regard to previous decisions of the highest courts in the land on the need for rights of suspects to be protected whilst in the custody of the State,” the BASL statement said.

The BASL noted that previous incidents too have not been investigated properly and that no action has been taken by the authorities to bring the culprits to justice, leading to allegations of a climate of impunity. Such failures have resulted in the whole process of administration of justice being called into question and the loss of public confidence in its efficacy.

“Responsibility for these killings must lie not only with the persons who carried out the killings but also all those who command them and those who failed to ensure the safety and security of the suspect. The BASL calls upon the IGP to explain his failure to protect the suspect who was in Police custody,” the statement said.

The BASL said it would take further steps on this matter and would keep its membership and the general public informed of the same.