Sri Lanka, May 29 -- The right to life is the most fundamental of all human rights, enshrined both in Sri Lanka's Constitution and in the international human rights treaties to which Sri Lanka is a party. Yet, between 2020 and 2025, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) documented 49 custodial deaths and 30 encounter deaths-figures that not only shock the conscience but demand urgent and systemic reform. These are not isolated incidents. They reflect an entrenched culture of impunity within law enforcement agencies.

The newly issued General Guidelines and Recommendations No. 1 of 2025 by the HRCSL provide a comprehensive framework for preventing such deaths and holding perpetrators accountable. But guidelines alone will not en...