A study of the investigation of death (coroner system) in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka (Ceylon) inherited the 'coroner system' of investigating death in the early nineteenth century. Unlike in England and Wales, the coroner system in Sri Lanka did not change much in the last century. This study, the first of its kind, was performed for a period of three months in 1995 to analyse the causes and circumstances of deaths reported for inquest, and the number of autopsies performed. Of the 868 cases reported to the Inquirer, the circumstances were not determined in 94 cases at the initial inquest proceedings. Of the other 774 cases, 454 (58.7%) were natural deaths. Autopsies were performed on 44.5% of natural deaths, 58.2% of accidental deaths, 96% of road traffic accidents, 44.9% of suicides and 81.6% of homicides. Coronary heart disease was the leading cause of natural death (33.9%). Head injuries were responsible for 31.8% of accidental deaths while burns accounted for 24.5% of accidental deaths and 46.3% of suicides. There were 38 cases (4.9%) of homicide of which autopsies were performed in 31. There is an urgent need to reform the century-old laws relating to inquest procedures in the country.