Author name: Tharindu Withanage

In order to develop sporting abilities of Police officers and to elevate them to the national and international sports arena, the 84th Police Inter-Divisional Athletics Festival, which was held in 2025 under the leadership of the Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya, was successfully held at the Bambalapitiya Police Field Force Ground from 12.09.2025 to 14.09.2025 today. The closing ceremony, including the final competitions, was held grandly at the Police Field Force Headquarters Ground on the evening of 14.09.2025 under the patronage of the Hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Mr. Sunil Kumara Gamage, as the Guest of Honour, the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ananda Wijepala, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry, Mr. Sunil Watagala, the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Saputhanthri, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, retired Senior DIG Mr. Ravi Seneviratne. The welcome speech at the function was delivered by the IGP, Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya Maha, who welcomed the chief guest and the invited guests and wished all the athletes and sportspersons a grand evening. This was followed by the men’s and women’s running finals, the invited school races that were brought in to add a touch of excitement to the tournament, and the men’s and women’s tug-of-war competitions that attracted everyone’s attention. After all the sports divisions presented a parade in front of all the invited guests, saluting the Hon. Prime Minister, the distinguished guests presented trophies/shields to the outstanding performers and the best teams in the tournament. The achievements – 100 x4 Men’s Final Winners – Police Special Task Force Team 100 x4 Women’s Final Winners – Police Headquarters Team 400 x4 Men’s Final Winners – Police Special Task Force Team 100X4 Men’s Invitational School Competition – St. Benedict’s College Team 100X4 Women’s Invitational School Competition – Pannipitiya Dharmapala College Team Tug of War Women – Kandy Division Tug of War Men – Police Special Task Force Best Out-of-Country Athlete – Kankesanthurai Division Women Sub-Inspector H.D.W. Mendis (11.6m javelin) The best out-of-state athlete – Jaffna Division Sub-Inspector H.S.G.H.Silva (68.99m javelin) The best throwing athlete – Police Special Task Force Police Constable G.M.C. Sarath Kumara (61.23m javelin) The best jumping athlete – Police Field Force Headquarters Police Constable 90433 I.G.P.S. Wijethunga (7.11m long jump) The best running athlete – Police Special Bureau Police Constable 92453 Jagath (400m 50.8sec) The best female athlete – Field event – Criminal Investigation Department Women Police Constable 7809 B.G. Sachithra Harshani (Long Jump 5.38 meters) The best athlete in the field event – Police Field Force Headquarters Police Constable 90433 D.G. S. Wijethunga (Long Jump 7.11 meters) The athlete who showed the maximum performance in the athletics event – Criminal Investigation Department Female Police Constable 7809 B.G. Sachithra Harshani (Long Jump 5.38 meters) The athlete who showed the maximum performance in the athletics event – Police Field Force Headquarters Police Constable 90433 D.G. S. Wijethunga (Long Jump 7.11 meters) The best out-of-town team won the Kusalanaya with 63 points. The Presidential Security Division won the best parade. Overall Women’s Championship Team – Police Special Task Force Women’s Team with 80 points. Overall Men’s Championship Team – Police Special Task Force Men’s Team with 222 points The shield for the best female athlete of the overall athletics event – Criminal Investigation Department Female Police Constable 7809 B.G. Sachithra Harshani  The shield for the best athlete of the overall athletics event – Police Constable 90433 D.G. S. Wijethunga of the Police Field Force Headquarters, Police Special Task Force Inspector A.M.M. Perera, Police Inspector Hemantha Kumara of the Police Field Force Headquarters who won equal marks won. The Criminal Investigation Department, which scored 97 points, won the Prime Minister’s Trophy for the overall runner-up in the 84th Police Athletics Festival, while the Police Special Task Force officers, who won the 84th Police Athletics Festival by scoring 302 points, won the President’s Trophy for the overall champion.

All arrangements have been made to hold the Sri Lanka Police Inter-Divisional Athletic Meet this year, for three days, under the patronage of the Inspector General of Police at the Field Force Headquarters Grounds, Bambalapitiya, with the aim of identifying talented athletes among police officers throughout the Island, whose skills can be honed for the international sports arena. This year’s meet marks the 84th Sri Lanka Police Inter-Divisional Athletic Meet held under the leadership of Inspector General of Police, (Attorney-at-Law) Priyantha Weerasooriya, and therefore its opening ceremony has commenced on the morning of 12.09.2025, under the patronage of the Inspector General of Police, with the lighting of the flame by sports leaders Police Constable 90433 Wijethunga and Woman Police Constable 7109 Sachithra Harshani, having taken the sports oath.  Track and field events such as men’s and women’s 200-meter preliminary round events, high jump, long jump, and tug-of-war are scheduled to be held, throughout the opening day.

Taking an oath to maintain an environment conducive to living without fear and trepidation in our motherland and for the purpose of providing the police services, round the clock, necessary for the day-to-day lives of the general public, 396 Probationary Police Constables, who completed their basic training at the Kalutara Police College for almost 8 months, passed out with pride and left for the respective police stations to which they were attached today on 09.09.2025. The passing-out ceremony was held with grandeur at the Aluvihara Grounds of the Kalutara Police College under the patronage of the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Ananda Wijeyapala, with the participation of the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Mr Ravi Seneviratne, and the Inspector General of Police (Attorney-at-Law), Mr Priyantha Weerasooriya. The salutation parade of this year’s passing-out ceremony, which consisted of 12 platoons with 367 police constables and 29 police constable drivers, was led by the Assistant Superintendent of Police of Colombo Central Division, Mr Minura Senarath, as the Chief Commanding Officer. The Officer in Charge of the Kalutara Police College, Chief Inspector of Police Mr Buddeen Chandradeep, acted as the Second in Command. After the salutation parade, awards and certificates were presented to the officers who had exhibited an outstanding performance during the training period under 05 categories by the Hon. Minister and the Inspector General of Police. * Probationary Police Constable 107351 C. B. K. R. Netkelum was awarded the Most Skilled Probationary Police Officer.* Probationary Police Constable 107257 * B. D. K. Sampath was awarded the Best Probationary Officer Proficient in Law.* Probationary Police Constable 107516 S. M. P. A. B. Senevirathna was awarded the Best Marksman.* Probationary Police Constable Driver 103370 A. M. J. D. B. Jayasundara was awarded the Most Skilled Probationary Constable Driver.* Police Constable Driver 103705 R. M. I. P. Jayathilaka was awarded the Best Driver. Then, the ceremony was inaugurated and the Acting Director of the Sri Lanka Police College, Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Dushantha Ruwan Thalagala, delivered the welcome speech at the ceremony and welcomed the chief guests, including senior police officers such as, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Training and Higher Training Range, Mr Sajeewa Medawatte, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Western Province, Mr Sanjeewa Dharmaratne, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Recruitment and Training Range, Mr Anura Pushpakumara, as well as senior government officials who participated in the ceremony representing leading government institutions, parents and companions of the probationary officers. Addressing the gathering, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Mr Ananda Wijeyapala, and Inspector General of Police (Attorney-at-Law) Priyantha Weerasooriya congratulated the new officers and explained the values that can be incorporated into life by maintaining strong professionalism in the police service.  The demonstrations, musical rendition, and dance performance presented by the Police Special Task Force, Police Western Band, and Police Cultural Division, respectively, together with the talented teams of Police College, contributed towards offering entertainment for those who had participated, in the same manner that is generally found marking the end of passing-out ceremonies.  Even this time, everyone who joined the Sri Lanka Police official Facebook page had the opportunity to watch all these events live.