Sri Lankan police accused of torture

A leading Asian human rights group has accused Sri Lanka's police force of torture, saying it has become so widespread it threatens the rule of law.

In a report, the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission called for a fundamental change in practices at all levels of policing in Sri Lanka.

The report was put together after the commission conducted its studies on alleged cases of torture over the past two years.

Sri Lanka's Interior, Minister John Amaratunga, declined to comment, saying he had not seen the report.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service