By The Pulseline News Desk
Sri Lanka is moving to install CCTV cameras at every police station across the country, in a move aimed at strengthening police accountability and preventing deaths and other abuses involving suspects in custody.
Police Media Spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police F.U. Wootler has said procurement activities for the project were already underway.
He has reportedly said steps would also be taken to monitor police stations through the CCTV footage, although details on the proposed monitoring arrangements and the timeline for completing the installation have not yet been disclosed.
The initiative comes amid renewed concerns over deaths in police custody, following several recent incidents that have prompted investigations by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) and calls for greater accountability within the police force.
According to the HRCSL, 49 people have died in police custody between January 2020 and March 31, 2025, while another 30 had died in confrontations with police following arrest.
The figures, based on complaints received and investigations conducted by the Commission, have highlighted longstanding concerns over the treatment of suspects after arrest, including allegations of torture, excessive force and negligence in providing medical assistance.
The issue returned to the spotlight following the deaths of two suspects in police custody in October 2026.
In one incident, a 29-year-old man, Ishara Harshakumara, died following his arrest by the Homagama Police on October 25. Investigations indicated that he had suffered serious injuries, including fractured ribs, a fractured neck bone and bleeding in the brain.
A former Sub-Inspector who headed the Homagama Police Crimes Division was subsequently arrested and remanded, while several other officers were suspended. The HRCSL has also launched an independent investigation into the death.
Separately, a 41-year-old suspect died after being held at the Kobeigane Police Station for two days. Three police officers were suspended over alleged negligence and failure to provide appropriate medical attention. Five civilians were also arrested over an assault on the suspect before he was handed over to police.
Human rights safeguards
The proposed CCTV installation follows recommendations issued by the HRCSL in May 2025 specifically to prevent custodial and encounter deaths.
The Commission’s General Guidelines and Recommendations No. 1 of 2025 have called for CCTV systems to be installed in police station reception areas, detention cells, corridors and other authorised places of detention to ensure that activities involving suspects are recorded.
The guidelines have also emphasised the need to protect detainees’ privacy, particularly when communicating confidentially with lawyers and medical professionals.
They set out safeguards covering arrests, detention, interrogation, transfers, the use of force and access to medical treatment.
The Commission has stressed that police officers have a responsibility to protect the lives of people in their custody, regardless of the offences they are suspected of committing.
It has also observed that many custodial deaths had occurred within 24 hours of arrest, with some incidents linked to investigations involving the discovery of weapons or narcotics.
The guidelines were circulated to police divisions following discussions with the Inspector General of Police. However, the Commission’s recent investigations into the Homagama incident have raised questions about compliance with the safeguards already introduced.
While the nationwide CCTV project could provide an additional layer of oversight, its effectiveness will depend on whether cameras cover all critical areas, whether recordings are securely retained and whether footage can be accessed independently when allegations of abuse arise.
CCTV surveillance could also help establish what happened to suspects between the time of arrest and their production before court, providing investigators with evidence beyond statements from police officers and other witnesses.
However, cameras alone will not address all concerns surrounding custodial deaths, particularly incidents alleged to have occurred during transportation or investigations conducted outside police stations.
The initiative therefore comes amid growing pressure on the police to demonstrate that existing human rights safeguards are being enforced and that officers responsible for abuses are held accountable.
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