Author name: Tharindu Withanage

As the most people friendly government institution, having successfully overcome the obstacles and challenges that arose from time to time during the history spanning over a century and a half, that is 159 years since the day Sir G. W. R. Campbell was appointed as the first Inspector General of Police on 03rd September 1866, to the date 03.09.2025, presently we work towards preserving law and order in the country with greater strength. Taking its pride into consideration, the 159th Police Day ceremony was held on 03 – 09 – 2025 at the Police Field Force Headquarters Grounds, Bambalapitiya under the leadership of Hon. President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ananda Wijepala, the Deputy Minister of the said Ministry, Mr. Sunil Watagala, the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Rtd. Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuiyakontha, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Rtd. S.D.I.G. Ravi Seneviratne, the Commanders of the Tri-Forces, senior government officials and many distinguished guests have participated in the event. The anniversary celebration commenced with the ceremonial parade, consisting of 5 platoons led by platoon commanders, who are senior police officers on horseback, giving salute to the President. Then a short silence was observed in honour and memory of the 3050 police officers who have lost their lives so far in the line of duty, prior to the welcome speech by the Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasooriya (Attorney-at-Law). Thereafter, arose the occasion for awarding promotions for 4254 Police Special Task Force officers and Police Officers below the rank of Chief Inspector of Police whose promotions had been long overdue indefinitely. Accordingly, several officers symbolically received their promotion letters from the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ananda Wijepala, the Deputy Minister of Public Security, Mr. Sunil Watagala, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Mr. Ravi Seneviratne. Then came the conferment of Presidential Commendations to the two police officers who led the famous overseas operation carried out by a local team of police officers last week. Hon. President, Anura Kumara awarded the President’s Police Gallantry Medal (Janadhipathi Police Weeratha Padakkama) to the Director of the Western Province North Crime Division, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Olugala, and the Assistant Superintendent of Police of Criminal Investigation Department, A. M. M. Jayasundara, for their outstanding performance of duty in arresting five notorious organized criminals in Indonesia and bringing them back to the country. Thereafter, addressing the Police Day celebrations, the President, extended his best wishes for the future journey of the Sri Lanka Police, while appreciating Sri Lanka Police, and commending and motivating the officers. The Inspector General of Police presented a commemorative memento to the President in honour of his presence on this occasion. Following the successful conclusion of the ceremonial proceedings, spectacular displays were performed by the Police Western Band, the Police Special Task Force, the Police Kennels Division, and the Police Cultural Division, through which the diverse skills and resources of the Sri Lanka Police were exhibited to all those present in a splendid manner. All events of this proud 159th Anniversary Celebration were broadcasted live via the official Facebook page of Sri Lanka Police by the Police Media Division, together with the Police Information Technology Division and the Police Communication Division.

The 12-storey building, located on an area of about 3 acres in the Kompannaveediya area, which has been used as the Sri Lanka Police Headquarters since 15.03.2024, was officially handed over to the Sri Lanka Police on this morning, 03.09.2025, under the patronage of Mr. Ananda Wijepala, the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs. This marks a significant milestone in the history of the Sri Lanka, as today (03) Sri Lanka Police celebrates its 159th Anniversary. Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Sunil Watagala; Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Mr. Ravi Seneviratne; Inspector General of Police (Attorney-at-Law), Mr. Priyantha Weerasuriya; and senior police officers have graced this occasion. Amidst religious blessings, the Minister officially declared open the new Police Headquarters and conveyed his congratulations to the Inspector General of Police.

The Sri Lanka Police, which has a history spanning over a century, is proudly celebrating its 159th anniversary this year.In conjunction with the Police Anniversary Day, a number of programs have been organized at police stations across the Island from this morning, 03.09.2025, to seek religious blessings for the future of the Sri Lanka Police.  A large number of police officers representing all ranks were provided with the opportunity to join the major all religious events held on the morning of 03.09.2025, with the participation of the Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law, Priyantha Weerasooriya, and the Senior Deputy Inspector General of the Western Province, Sanjeewa Dharmaratne, at the Gangaramaya Viharaya in Kompannaveediya, the Bambalapitiya Kadireshan Hindu Kovil, the Dawatagahawatta Mosque in Kurunduwatta and the Infant Jesus Catholic Church in Kampannaveediya. 

The 159th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Police, an institution with a history spanning over a century and a half, will be celebrated on 03rd September 2025.  03rd September 1866, the day Mr. G. W. R. Campbell was appointed as the first Inspector General of Police, is recognised as the foundation day of the Sri Lanka Police. Accordingly, having to celebrate 159th Police Day within a fortnight from Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya’s (Attorney-at-law) assuming duties as the 37th Inspector General of Police marks a significant milestone, since the day of assumption of duties in the office of Inspector General of Police is commemorated as the Police Day. Historical evidence substantiates the fact that there had been duties similar to the police duties even within the period when the system of monarchy prevailed in Sri Lanka.  When tracing the history of police, facts emerge on how the police duty marked its inception during a time when foreign nationals invaded this country which was ruled under a system of monarchy.  Subsequent to the Dutch occupation of the coastal areas in 1602, the Colombo Municipal Council approved a proposal in 1650 to deploy guards for the protection of the city at night. Accordingly, four soldiers were employed to conduct night patrols in the city, which can be considered the initial duty of the Sri Lanka Police. On 16th February 1796, the Dutch surrendered to the British, and from then onwards, the British Army was responsible for maintaining law and order in the country. An additional financial burden regarding the supervision of the police fell heavily on the government. As a result, Governor Frederick North, with the consent of the Chief Justice, entrusted the responsibility of overseeing the Police to the magistrates and Police judges. A law was passed for the first time with regard to the Sri Lanka Police after a short period of time from the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British. Afterwards, regulations were enacted in 1806 to appoint a Police Officer or a type of headman named Village Police Vidane for each village. They were held accountable to the Government Agent of the respective district and were also entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining order and investigation of crimes in the relevant villages under their purview.  Since the title of the head of the Police Force was changed from Chief Superintendent of Police to Inspector General of Police with the amendment of Police Ordinance No. 16 of 1865, the statutory establishment of present police service occurred on 03rd September 1866. The Governor, Frederick North, who was looking for a dynamic person to reorganize the police in the Island, conducted some observations into such affairs, with the intention of drawing inspirations from the police duties in India. The Governor of Bombay recommended Mr. G. W. R. Campbell, who was in charge of the “Rathnagiri Rangers” of the Bombay Police, to shoulder this onerous responsibility. Mr. Campbell was selected by the Governor and he assumed duties as the Chief Superintendent of Police on the 03rd of September 1866.  By 1843, the existing Police Ordinance was repealed, granting the Governor the authority to establish Police Stations at any location on the Island. In 1845, the position, Inspector of Police was introduced, increasing the number of Police officers, and the rank, Police Constable was introduced, replacing the rank of Police Peon. In 1870, with the objective of unravelling the increasing commercial crimes, baffling murders, and mysteries, deployment of Police officers in civil attire was initiated.   Subsequently, the Criminal Investigation Department was inaugurated by Major Knolis who was appointed the Inspector General of Police in 1891 and the first Officer in Charge of the said establishment was Inspector of Police Mr. Kothalawala. Sir Richard Aluvihare, commenced duties on 01st June 1947, as the first Sri Lankan Inspector General of Police and the Department of Police, which remained under the Ministry of Home Affairs at that time, was brought under the purview of the Ministry of Defence. Following independence gained in 1948, Sir Richard Aluvihare was tasked with transforming the Police Force into a Police Service divorced from the vestiges of Colonialism. Shouldering the said responsibility in an effective manner, he performed an invaluable service towards the progress of the Sri Lanka Police by focusing on the welfare of officers, investigation, crime detection, crime prevention societies, volunteers of rural watch, police huts, public relations, and development of new training methods. The Police Kennel duty, recognized globally as an area of expertise in crime-solving, was established within the Sri Lanka Police in November 1948. Currently, various police canines are deployed across 54 units island-wide, significantly contributing to crime investigations, drug detection, and explosives identification. In 1952, the Sri Lanka Police started recruiting female officers, and since then, they have advanced through various ranks, from Woman Police Constable to Woman Deputy Inspector General of Police, contributing greatly to the Sri Lanka Police. The Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women established in 1979, now operates across all police stations with the active participation of female officers. During the tenure of Inspector General of Police Mr. Chandra Fernando in 2006, a special unit named SOCO was established by giving special training for Scene of Crime Officers by the Swedish Police to investigate crimes reported to the Sri Lanka Police. The officers who obtained the said training are deployed across 43 units island-wide and are performing criminal investigation duties. In addition to the training provided by the police colleges, a training institute known as the Police Higher Education Institute was established in 1978 with the aim of equipping police officers with the knowledge necessary to address future challenges facing the Sri Lanka police. Thereafter, it was reestablished with the name of Sri Lanka Police Academy in 2008 and later as the National Police Academy by the Parliament Act No. 04 of 2011 for carrying out courses in coordination with universities, paving its path to award a police degree in the future. In 1983, the Special Task

The mess, which had been in dilapidated condition for some time and used by the Talaimannar Police Station, was renovated within a short period by the Police Engineering Branch of the Mannar Police Division. The necessary financial assistance for this was provided from the Police Rewards Fund. The Inspector General of Police, Mr Priyantha Weerasooriya (Attorney-at-Law), visited the Talaimannar Police Station on the evening of 01.09.2025 to declare the completely renovated mess open at the invitation of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Northern Province, Mr Thilak C. A. Dhanapala. Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Northern Province, Mr Thilak C. A. Dhanapala, Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Vanni Range, Mr Samantha Wijesekara, Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of the Mannar Division, Mr W. K. A. J. Erick Ranjith, Senior Superintendent of Police who was previously in charge of Mannar Division and is currently in charge of Trincomalee Police Division, Mr L. Y. A. Chandrapala, and the Officer in Charge of the Talaimannar Police Station, Chief Inspector of Police Mr Janaka Thushara, participated in this event.

Sunset Holiday Resort for Police Officers, built next to Vankalai Police Station, was declared open by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya, on 01.09.2025. The entire construction of this resort has been carried out with the labor contribution of the officers of the Mannar Divisional Engineering Division, and the financial contribution has been provided through divisional grants. Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Northern Province, Thilak C.A. Dhanapala; Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Wanni Range, Samantha Wijesekera; Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of Mannar Division, W. K. A. J. Eric Ranjith; Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of Trincomalee Division, L. Y. A. Chandrapala; Officer in charge of Vankalai Police Station, Chief Inspector of Police Kelum Darshana Senevirathne also participated in this event.

Concurrent with the Police day which celebrates on 3rd of September in every year, a religious ceremony to bestow blessings upon Sri Lanka Police and the country, led by the venerable Maha Sangha, was held under the leadership of Inspector General of Police, having placed police flag and police divisional flags under the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi. Inspector General of Police, Mr. Priyantha Weerasuriya (Attorney-at-Law) together with senior police officers performed religious rituals on 01. 09. 2025, at the sacred city of Anuradhapura, where the most sacred Ruwanweli Seya and Sri Maha Bodhi Buddha reside.

The 41st War Heroes’ Day of the Police Special Task Force, observed in remembrance of the war heroes of the Police Special Task Force fallen in the line of duty serving the country, was held on 01.09.2025 at the Katukurunda Special Task Force Training School, Kalutara, under the leadership of the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Retired Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police D. W. R. B. Seneviratne, with the participation of the Inspector General of Police (Attorney-at-law) Priyantha Weerasooriya. 464 war heroes and 06 civilian employees of the Police Special Task Force sacrificed their lives in defence of the sovereignty of the motherland during the war situation that prevailed for nearly thirty years in the Northern and Eastern regions. 774 war heroes were also injured and rendered permanently disabled. On 1st of September, 1984, the first four members of the Special Task Force breathed their last, having been hit by a landmine planted targeting a truck carrying officers of the Police Special Task Force, by LTTE terrorists in the Tikkam area between Jaffna and Point Pedro. Those demised officers are Sergeants of Police Special Task Force, R. Chandrapala, P. A. Ekanayaka, L. D. Nanayakkara, and Police Sergeant Driver H. D. Sumanasekara. Eleven other officers who were in the truck were also injured by the incident. Based on that incident, War Heroes’ Day of the Police Special Task Force is commemorated on the first day of September each year. Senior Officers including the Commandant of the Police Special Task Force, Deputy Inspector General of Police D. G. Samantha de Silva, took measures to observe this ceremony this year as well, accorded with honour, with the participation of the family members of the war heroes.  Senior police officers, including the Inspector General of Police, and Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Training and Higher Training Range, Sajeewa Medawatta, participated in this event.