Police & arrest

පොලිසිය සහ අත්අඩංගුවට ගැනීම · பொலிஸும் கைதும்

Arrest, bail, searches, complaints

Situations

• If you are arrested by the police · පොලිසිය ඔබව අත්අඩංගුවට ගත්තොත් · பொலிஸ் உங்களைக் கைது செய்தால்
• Police asked you to come and give a statement · ප්‍රකාශයක් දීමට පැමිණෙන ලෙස පොලිසිය ඔබට කීවා · வாக்குமூலம் அளிக்க வருமாறு பொலிஸ் உங்களை அழைத்தது
• Police want to search you or your home · පොලිසියට ඔබව හෝ ඔබේ නිවස සෝදිසි කිරීමට අවශ්‍යයි · பொலிஸ் உங்களை அல்லது உங்கள் வீட்டைச் சோதனையிட விரும்புகிறது
• You or a family member needs bail · ඔබට හෝ පවුලේ කෙනෙකුට ඇප අවශ්‍යයි · உங்களுக்கோ குடும்ப உறுப்பினருக்கோ பிணை தேவை
• Police refused to record your complaint · පොලිසිය ඔබේ පැමිණිල්ල සටහන් කිරීම ප්‍රතික්ෂේප කළා · பொலிஸ் உங்கள் முறைப்பாட்டைப் பதிவுசெய்ய மறுத்தது
• A police officer treated you badly · පොලිස් නිලධාරියෙක් ඔබට අයුතු ලෙස සැලකුවා · பொலிஸ் அலுவலர் ஒருவர் உங்களைத் தவறாக நடத்தினார்
• Someone was detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act · ත්‍රස්තවාදය වැළැක්වීමේ පනත යටතේ කෙනෙකු රඳවා තබා ඇත · பயங்கரவாதத் தடைச் சட்டத்தின் கீழ் ஒருவர் தடுத்து வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளார்

Acts, ordinances and regulations

• Code of Criminal Procedure Act, No. 15 of 1979 — Main rules on arrest, searches, police investigations, statements, remand, trials and appeals.
• Bail Act, No. 30 of 1997 — Makes bail the normal rule; sets when bail is given, refused or cancelled, and limits long detention.
• Constitution, Article 13 — Arrest only by legal procedure, with reasons; you must be brought before a judge; presumption of innocence.
• National Police Commission Rules of Procedure (Investigation of Public Complaints against Police Officers or the Police Service) 2023 - Gazette Extraordinary No. 2345/46 of 16 August 2023 — How the public can complain about police officers to the National Police Commission, with timelines.
• Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (1979, amended 2022) — Special arrest and detention powers for terrorism cases; still in force in October 2026, with a replacement Bill before Parliament.
• Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (2026, proposed) — Proposed law to replace the PTA; reported to go to Parliament on 6 October 2026. Not yet law.
• Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Act, No. 22 of 1994 — Torture by police or other officials is a crime with 7-10 years imprisonment.
• Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Act, No. 21 of 1996 — The Commission must be told of certain arrests and can inspect places of detention and investigate abuse.
• Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act, No. 10 of 2023 — Victims can complain and get protection; a special police division protects victims and witnesses.
• Code of Criminal Procedure (Special Provisions) Act, No. 2 of 2013 — Special rules on detention and access during investigations; proposals to change lawyer access have been debated.
• Penal Code (Ordinance No. 2 of 1883) — Defines most crimes and their punishments; the police enforce it.