Image: ©Raffy Lerma/OMCT
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a Fundamental Rights petition amid serious concerns over alleged extrajudicial killings by the Sri Lanka Police, following the deaths of two youths in custody.
The petition, filed by the father of one of the deceased, challenges the circumstances under which the two young men—arrested in connection with a shooting incident—were killed while under the custody of the Kotahena Police. It also seeks Rs. 10 million in compensation.
When the case was taken up on June 2 before a bench comprising Justices Mahinda Samayawardena, Arjuna Obeysekara and Gihan Kulatunga, the Court fixed October 16 as the date for hearing.
The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of Kotahena Police and several other officers have been named as respondents, with the petition raising questions about accountability and the use of lethal force against suspects already in police custody.
According to police statements, the two youths—arrested over a shooting in Kotahena on March 21, 2025—were taken to Mattakkuliya Crow Island to identify hidden weapons. Police claim the suspects opened fire using concealed firearms, prompting officers to respond with retaliatory fire that resulted in their deaths.
However, the petition challenges this version of events, highlighting broader public concern over a pattern of custodial deaths and alleged extrajudicial killings involving law enforcement. The case is expected to examine whether the victims’ fundamental rights were violated and whether due legal process was bypassed.