Authorities have initiated a probe following accusations that a man was assaulted by police officers at Ambalangoda Police Station after his arrest on August 24, with conflicting accounts from the family and police about the circumstances of the incident.
An investigation has been ordered by the Inspector General of Police following allegations that a man sustained injuries during police custody at Ambalangoda Police Station. A video circulating on social media prompted scrutiny of the incident that occurred on the night of August 24.
According to the man's son, his father was stopped approximately 100 metres from their residence and taken to the police station after failing to produce his National Identity Card. The son alleged that his father offered to fetch the identification from his nearby home but was instead verbally abused and assaulted. The family claims the man was further assaulted at the station, threatened with a firearm, and denied immediate medical care. The son discovered his father bleeding when he arrived at the station after becoming concerned about his absence.
Police have provided a different account of events. They stated the man was arrested for allegedly being intoxicated and behaving disorderly on the road. According to police, the man attempted to flee during arrest but fell, which they attribute to his visible injuries. The suspect was admitted to Balapitiya Hospital on August 25 for examination by a Judicial Medical Officer and was subsequently released on bail by the Additional Magistrate of Balapitiya.
The family disputes the police assertion that their relative was intoxicated at the time. The investigation is being conducted under the supervision of the District Inspector General of Galle, with a senior officer from outside the Elpitiya Police Division leading the inquiry. The probe aims to clarify the conflicting narratives surrounding the man's injuries and the circumstances of his arrest.
