Abstract

Sri Lanka’s death investigation system has originated from the British coroner system and it is currently provisioned mainly by the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979. The death inquirers - magistrates and inquirers into sudden death - are empowered to carry out inquests in sudden and unnatural deaths to ascertain cause and manner of death. Autopsies are performed by qualified medical officers upon the request of death inquirers. Maternal deaths, although not specified in the Code of Criminal Procedure, undergo mandatory autopsies. In the face of mass disasters in recent history; including the 2004 tsunami, 2019 Easter bombing and COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka adapted the regulations to overcome the medico-legal challenges in the management of the deceased.

Keywords: Autopsy, COVID-19, Inquiry into sudden death, Maternal deaths, Sri Lanka