- Most deaths while being taken into custody
A total of 86 people died in Police custody, while being taken into custody, or while being held in detention between 1 January 2020 and 26 October of this year (2026), according to data released by the Police under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The figures were provided by the Police Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) on 4 November in response to an RTI request filed by The Daily Morning.
The highest number of deaths was recorded in 2023, with 19. There were 16 deaths in 2020, 14 in 2021, 11 in 2022, 10 in 2024 and 12 last year (in 2025). Four deaths have been recorded so far this year, up to 26 October. The largest number of deaths, 23, occurred while suspects were being taken into custody. Another 15 died while being taken for investigations after their arrest, and a further 15 by hanging inside Police cells. According to information, 18 deaths were natural, caused by sudden illness while the suspects were held in cells. Seven deaths were attributed to drug intake, and five involved suspects who had been assaulted by members of the public before being handed over to the Police. One death each was attributed to a suspect behaving violently inside a cell, to injuries sustained while escaping from the place of detention, and to a suspected Police assault. The suspected assault case was recorded this year.
The deaths had been reported from a large number of Police divisions across the country. These include Colombo North, Central and South, Mount Lavinia, Homagama, Nawagamuwa, Gampaha, Kalutara, Elpitiya, Galle, Matara, Tangalle, Suriyawewa, Kurunegala, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Negombo and Kelaniya. Deaths were also reported from special units, namely the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Colombo Crimes Division, the Police Narcotics Bureau and the Terrorism Investigation Division.
When queried as to whether an inquiry or investigation had been carried out into each death at the Police Departmental level, the Police stated that a Magisterial inquiry and a post-mortem examination had been conducted by the relevant regional Magistrate's Court in every case. In sensitive and special cases, further investigations were carried out by the CID or another special Police unit on the instructions of the Inspector General of Police, and the findings were reported to the courts and the Attorney General.
The CCIB declined to state as to how many officers had been suspended or were interdicted in connection with these deaths, or against how many officers disciplinary action had been concluded or legal proceedings had been instituted. It stated that this information related to officers' personal disciplinary inquiries and personal files, and was therefore exempt from disclosure under Section 5(1)(a) of the Act, which covers personal information. However, The Daily Morning will appeal against the refusal, as the request sought only the number of officers concerned and not their names or any other details that would identify them.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala and Public Security Ministry Secretary Ravi Senevirathne were not contactable on whether the Ministry would consider introducing further guidelines to prevent deaths in Police custody.