Author name: Tharindu Withanage

Concurrent with the reorganisation of the administrative structure of the Sri Lanka Police, each province is to be empowered with a Provincial Crime Division. Accordingly, the North Western Provincial Crime Division, built within the Wehera Police Complex, was declared open on 03.08.2025 under the leadership of the Hon. Minister of Public Security, Ananda Wijepala, with the participation of the Acting Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasooriya. According to the duties expected to be discharged through this, Special Investigation Teams shall perform duties to suppress organised crime and criminal gangs, to thwart drug trafficking by debilitating the illegal drug network, and to prevent all crimes while enforcing the law against the said crimes in such a way that covers Puttalam, Kurunegala, Kuliyapitiya, and Nikaweratiya Police Divisions. Many senior officers, including Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the North Western Province, Attorney-at-Law Ajith Rohana, and Deputy Inspector General of Police of the North Western Range, Sarath Kumara, participated in this event.

The program to distribute school supplies to the children of Police Officers in the North Western Province, was held on 03 – 08 – 2025 at the auditorium of Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala under the leadership of the Hon. Minister of Public Security, Mr. Ananda Wijepala. The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Priyantha Weerasuriya (Attorney-at-Law), and Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of North Western Province, Mr. Ajith Rohana (Attorney-at-Law), have participated in the event. School supplies were distributed among a large number of students. Having appreciated the service extended by every police officer who is dedicated to ensure peace in the country by performing duties throughout the day, the Minister and the Acting Inspector General of Police create awareness on the upcoming programs to be implemented for the welfare of the officers.

Acting Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law, Priyantha Weerasooriya participated in the second Conference of ICT Lawyers’ Guild of Sri Lanka held on 02.08.2025 at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo. Headed by the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, Mr. Preethi Padman Surasena, along with attorneys-at-law, heads of institutions, national policy makers, technological innovators, and other professionals in the relevant field engaged in a thorough discussion on the legal challenges encountered by Sri Lanka on its journey towards a digital transformation. Views were exchanged on how the Sri Lanka Police is taking action under the existing legal provisions in a manner that is appropriate for the present era, focusing on matters such as, countering domestic and foreign digital threats, cybercrimes, misuse of artificial intelligence, and data security.

For the purpose of electing new office bearers, the General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Police Seva Vanitha Unit, which is actively engaged in the welfare of officers of all ranks, who have joined the police service, as well as families of those officers, was held on the morning of 02.08.2025 at the Auditorium of the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Colombo, under the patronage of the Acting Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Mr Priyantha Weerasooriya. Led by the Chairperson of the Police Seva Vanitha Unit, Attorney-at-Law Mrs Nilmini Samaratunga, wife of the Acting Inspector General of Police, and the Advisor to the Seva Vanitha Mother Unit, Senior Attorney-at-Law Mrs Anoma Gunathilaka, wife of retired Inspector General of Police Mr Jayantha Wickramaratne, the officers holding positions of the said units participated in this meeting. After registering new members and presenting the accounts of the previous year, members were appointed to the internal committees of the unit, along with the appointment of officers to new positions. The meeting concluded successfully after discussions on new programmes and plans to be launched in the future for the welfare of the families of police officers. Ex-Officio Chairperson – Attorney-at-Law Mrs.Nilmini Nita Samaratunga  Vice Chairperson – Deputy Inspector General of Police Mrs. Nishani Seneviratne Secretary – Deputy Inspector General of Police Mrs. Renuka Jayasundara Treasurer – Senior Superintendent of Police Mrs. Madhara Ariyasena Vice Treasurer – Woman Chief Inspector of Police Mrs. Nimali Fonseka

A meeting was held at Sansa Hall on the 29.08.2025, to review the progress of the law and order maintenance program implemented in the Matara and Tangalle Police Divisions with the aim of suppressing all illegal activities including organized crimes reported in those provinces. The meeting was chaired by the Hon. Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ananda Wijepala, and was attended by the Secretary of the Ministry, retired Senior DIG Mr. Ravi Seneviratne, and the Acting IGP, Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Priyantha Weerasuriya, as well as senior officers in charge of the province. Moreover, discussions were held on issues arising in the performance of duties and on improving the welfare of officers.

As a result of efforts made since 2011 to implement a new approach to the traffic fine payment system, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Transport, Highways, and Ports and Civil Aviation have successfully launched the Digital Payment System, in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy.  In the first phase, Digital payment System has been implemented as pilot project using mobile phones in 12 police stations such as Anuradhapura, Kawarekkulam, Thirappane, Maradankadawala, Kekirawa, Madatugama, Kurunegala, Gokarella, Melsiripura, Doratiyawa, Dambulla and Galewela, and it has found successful. Having expanded this facility for the convenience of the police and the public, measures have been taken to officially launch the facility of paying traffic fines through GovPay within Western Province and the expressway system on 28 – 07 – 2025 under the leadership of Mr. Bimal Ratnayake – Minister of Transport, Highways, and Ports and Civil Aviation, and Mr. Ananda Wijeyapala – Minister of Public Security, and with the participation of Acting Inspector General of Police  – Mr. Priyantha Weerasuriya (Attorney-at-Law). In order to make this system successful, steps will be taken to train police officers, as well as to create awareness among the public. The Digital Payment System, which was launched with the primary objective of preventing traffic offences & accidents, and providing convenience to the public, is scheduled to be implemented throughout the island in the future.