Author name: Tharindu Withanage

A ceremony of awarding prizes and IGP commendations for the police officers who are exceptionally talented and skilled both in service as well as in personal life in solving crimes was held under the leadership of Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Mr. Ravi Senevirathne, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, and with the participation of Acting Inspector General of Police Mr. Priyantha Weerasuriya in the evening of the 26th of March, 2025, at the Criminal Records Division. On this occasion, a prize of over 24 million rupees and 25 IGP commendations were symbolically awarded to 140 police officers by the Acting Inspector General of Police. Accordingly, necessary arrangements have been made for awarding monetary prizes exceeding 29 million rupees from the Police Rewards Fund, as well as IGP Commendations for 515 individuals, which include 13 Gazetted Officers, 100 Inspectors’ Grade Officers, 5 Women Inspectors’ Grade Officers, 231 Police Sergeants and Constables, 38 Women Police Sergeants and Constables, 8 Driver Police Sergeants and Constables, in addition to 113 officers from the Sri Lanka Army and Navy, 1 Civil Security Officer, and 6 civilians.Accordingly, the Police Divisional level has also been awarded prizes and during this prize giving season, more than Rs. 29 million has been paid from the Police Prize Fund, including the IGP’s commendation, to 13 government notified officers, 100 inspectors’ grade officers, and 100 police officers.

In addition to the unsurpassed service performed by the Sri Lanka Police to maintain law and order in the country and to ensure public security, it is constantly taking necessary measures to provide the necessary facilities to its officers to make the country proud through sports. The Sri Lanka Police, which has been able to secure the national-level championship in boxing for the longest time, has made a new boxing ring at the Kalutara Police College, as another step taken for the future development of the sport. It was opened for the use of police officers on the morning of 26.03.2025, with the participation of Attorney-at-Law Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya, Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sajeewa Medawatte, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Training and Higher Training Range, Mr. Jagath Seram, who is in charge of the Galle Range and the current President of the Police Boxing Association, and Mr. Manoj Perera, Senior Superintendent of Police and the Secretary of the Police Boxing Association. The aim is to provide such new opportunities and facilities in the future to improve the physical and mental concentration, resilience and other qualities necessary for the life of a police officer. A number of senior police officers, probationary police officers and persons involved in boxing participated in this event.

The Iftar Ceremony organised by the Sri Lanka Police Buddhist and Religious Affairs Association for the Islamic officers serving in the Sri Lanka Police on the occasion of the fasting month of Ramadan was held on the evening of 24.03.2025 at the Marina Grand Hotel, Wellawatte, under the patronage of the Hon. Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Sunil Watagala. Ambassadors of Islamic countries, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Mr. Ravi Seneviratne, Senior Police Officers, including Acting Inspector General of Police, Attorney at Law, Mr. Priyantha Weerasuriya, and Islamic Police Officers serving in police stations across the island participated in this event.

 The Married Quarters Complex, built in Kalupaluwawa, Colombo, for the officers of the Police Special Task Force, who are engaged in major tasks such as combating organised crime and prevention of drug trafficking in the Western Province, was declared open on the morning of 24.03.2025, under the leadership of the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ananda Wijepala. This quarters complex, completed under a financial allocation of Rs. 620 million, consists of 36 fully-furnished quarters to make the personal lives comfortable of the married officers of the Police Special Task Force, who remain on standby duty around the clock prepared for any emergency situation in the Western Province. Many government officials, including Mr. Ravi Seneviratne – Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-law – Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya, – Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Samantha De Silva – Deputy Inspector General of Police – Commandant, Police Special Task Force, Mr. Sanjeewa Dharamarathna – Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, Western Province, and Mr. Gayantha Marapana – Deputy Inspector General of Police participated in this event.

The Police Heroes Day was celebrated on 21.03.2025 at every police station island wide with dignity and respect in memory of fellow police officers who died in the line of duty, during times of terror and on the battlefield, having taken the oath to serve above and beyond their duty by sacrificing their lives to preserve the law and order of the motherland. The main ceremony was held with pride on the morning of 21.03.2025 at the Field Force Headquarters, Bambalapitiya, under the patronage of the Acting Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Mr Priyantha Weerasuriya, and amidst the police salute, the Inspector General of Police paid floral tribute to the Police Heroes Memorial at the Field Force Headquarters in memory of the police officers who lost their lives and were disabled in the line of duty. The Inspector General of Police honoured the presence of 30 family members of deceased police officers and 20 family members of completely disabled police officers who died or were disabled during the war and maintained law and order by presenting them with cash awards. Retired IGPs, Senior Police officers and disabled police officers participated in this event.  

The Sri Lankan Police was statutory established on 03rd of September 1866, with Mr. G. W. R. Campbell, a white national, as the first Inspector General of Police. In 1602, during the Dutch Colonial Era, the appointment of ‘Disawa’ for the administration of the Colombo area, the appointment of ‘Police Vidane’ in 1806, and the change of the title ‘Police Vidane’ to Police Constable in 1815 can be identified as the formal beginnings of police duties within Ceylon. By the committee appointed by the Mayor Sir Robert Norton in 1832, the Police Ordinance No. 03 of 1832 was enacted.  During that period approximately 1430 officers served under a superintendent of police as a police force. When executing the order given by E. R. Saunders, the Government Agent of Kegalle, to arrest Uthuwankande Saradiel, who acted against the prevailing laws of the country enacted by the foreign rulers, the police constable named Sabhan was killed by Saradiel on the 21st of March 1864, and that incident is marked as the first time a police officer has been killed in the line of duty. Accordingly, today, 21.03.2025, the Sri Lanka Police proudly celebrates the 161st Police Heroes’ Day.  

The 109 Operations Room was established by the Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women to report and investigate crimes against children and women in the country. Officers attached to this Unit discharge duty throughout 24 hours to extend their services. The 109 Operations Room, established to investigate crimes against women and children, was revamped with modern amenities with the aids received from Japan. The opening ceremony of the said chamber, the NCMEC Investigation Unit established in the same premises, and the Investigation Unit for Human Trafficking and Smuggling was held on 20-03-2025 at 09.00 at the Children and Women’s Bureau under the leadership of the Hon. Deputy Minister to the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Sunil Watagala with the participation of the Deputy Project Head of IOM, Mr. Kamoshida Naoaki, and the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriy Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children, Mrs. Renuka Jayasundara and Women Police Officers participated in this event.

Several memoranda of understanding were signed between the Inspector General of Police and the Registrar General on the morning of 14.03.2025 at the Police Headquarters. Since all civil records and national records, such as births, marriages, and deaths in the country, are properly recorded in the Registrar General’s Department, the assistance of that department is very significant for the Sri Lanka Police to obtain relevant information more efficiently for criminal investigations. Accordingly, it will be helpful to conclude the investigations expeditiously by receiving the information contained in the registered civil records without delay in terms of these agreements for police investigations in the future.