Former Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) President Saliya Pieris, PC, in a Facebook post, stressed that arrests and criminal investigations must be conducted strictly in line with the law.
He said parading suspects before the media, recording their statements, and sharing such footage online may appeal to some sections of the public but ultimately weaken the prosecution’s case during trial.
Calling such actions “childish,” Pieris said they bring disrepute to the police and question the professionalism of investigators.
Attorney-at-Law Wasantha Sri Watagoda also condemned the practice, noting that suspects who are to be produced for an identification parade under Section 124 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act should not be publicly exposed beforehand.
He explained that revealing a suspect’s face prior to the identification process could undermine its evidential value. “Such premature exposure can affect the integrity of the entire process,” Watagoda said.
He further pointed out that under the Evidence Ordinance, any confession made to a police officer cannot be used against an accused, stressing the importance of following due process.
