The interdicted Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Crimes Division at the Homagama Police Station, who was arrested in connection with the death of a young man while in police custody, has been remanded until November 12, 2026 by the Homagama Magistrate’s Court.
The officer was arrested yesterday (28) by officers of the Western Province South Divisional Crime Investigation Division.
The arrested officer, a 32-year-old resident of Horana, had been interdicted following the incident.
The Superintendent of Police (SP) in charge of Homagama District I suspended three police officers from service with effect from October 26, 2026, in connection with the incident.
The suspended officers include two Sub-Inspectors, who served as the OIC of the Crimes Division and the OIC of the Anti-Corruption/Raids Unit at the Homagama Police Station, respectively, and a Police Constable who was on duty at the time of the incident.
The deceased was a 29-year-old father of two from Kiriwaththuduwa. He was arrested by Homagama Police officers at Pitipana Junction on October 25, allegedly for possessing narcotics.
According to police, the suspect developed a sudden illness after being brought to the Homagama Police Station. He was subsequently admitted to the Homagama Base Hospital for treatment but later died.
Following his death, the incident was reported to the Homagama Magistrate’s Court. The Acting Magistrate conducted a site inspection and a magisterial inquiry into the body at the Homagama Base Hospital.
A post-mortem examination was subsequently conducted by a Judicial Medical Officer at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Kalubowila.
Investigations into the incident are being conducted by the Western Province South Divisional Crime Investigation Division under the direct supervision of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in charge of the Homagama Division, with the assistance of the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in charge of Homagama District II.
Meanwhile, the Western Province South Divisional Crime Investigation Division and the Police Special Investigation Unit have also launched separate investigations into the incident on the instructions of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
