During the past eight months alone 32 people have died in custody said the chief whip of the government Dinesh Gunawardana on Tuesday.

The number of people killed in custody in 2202 was two while it has increased to 26 by 2008.

The Chief whip said that within the four year period of the present government its current administration 91 suspects have died while in police custody.

The Chief whip of the government, Dinesh Gunawardana reviled these figures while responding to a question from JVP parliamentarian Laxman Nipuna Arachi.

The police have said that the majority of these deaths have occurred while suspects were taken to find hidden weapons.

Human rights organizations have described these deaths in custody as a break down of the rule of law.