Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya directed the Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) of Police for the Southern Province to launch an investigation into the sudden death of a youth while in police custody in Kosgoda.

The youth, a 28-year-old resident of Kosgoda, was arrested on 1 May on suspicion of drug possession. 

According to Police, he died while being transferred to a hospital due to health issues.