Author name: Tharindu Withanage

In accordance with a proposal made by the Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya, an Environmental Police Week has been declared in conjunction with the 78th National Independence Day, which falls on 04 February 2026. Accordingly, an island-wide tree-planting programme is being implemented under the guidance of the Community Policing and Environmental Protection Directorate. Under this initiative, approximately 25,000 valuable plant saplings, including cardamom, mee, jackfruit, and various fruit plants, are to be distributed to police stations throughout the island. The official inauguration ceremony of the sapling distribution programme was held on the morning of 02 February 2026 at the Police Field Force Headquarters. On this occasion, around 2,500 saplings were symbolically distributed to 126 police stations in the Western Province under the patronage of the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ananda Wijeyapala, with the participation of the Inspector General of Police. Under the supervision of the Forest Conservation Department, the saplings will be transported to all police stations across the island over the coming days, together with the necessary guidelines for proper planting and maintenance. The Community Policing and Environmental Protection Directorate will also conduct post-planting monitoring and follow-up to ensure the success of the initiative. With the commitment of the Environmental Police Officers and the entire police force, this programme is expected to significantly enhance green coverage across the country. The initiative aims to achieve its primary objective of contributing positively to environmental conservation while preserving the nation’s natural beauty. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Senior Additional Secretary to the President (Finance and Economic Affairs) Mr. G.M.R.D. Aponsu, Additional Secretary to the President Engineer Mr. S.P.C. Sugeeshwara representing the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Retired Senior DIG Mr. Ravi Seneviratne, DIG in charge of the Community Policing and Environmental Protection Directorate Mr. R.A.R.N. Rajapaksa, Director of the Community Policing Division Mr. SSP D.K. Priyantha, Director of the Environmental Protection Division SSP Mr. D.K. Manoj Perera, along with numerous other senior police officers and government officials.

The annual Police Flower Parade, organized by the Sri Lanka Police in conjunction with the Navam Maha Perahera of the Gangaramaya Temple, Hunupitiya, Colombo, was held on 31.01.2026 and 01.02.2026. As part of this event, a ceremonial procession paraded through the streets from the Gangaramaya Temple to the Seema Malakaya on the evening of 30.01.2026. The parade was organized by the Police Buddhist and Religious Affairs Association under the close guidance and supervision of the Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law, Priyantha Weerasuriya. Over 200 police officers took part in the procession, carrying Sesath, Muthukudda and Buddhist Flags, while participating as Hevisi drummers and traditional dance troupes, adding cultural splendor to the event. Officers representing the Police Cultural Division, the Police Special Task Force, and the Police Headquarters actively participated in the procession. The event was conducted in a dignified and magnificent manner with the assistance and security provided by the surrounding police stations.

A cash award presentation ceremony was held on the morning of 30 January 2026 at the main auditorium of the Police Crime Records Division in Colombo, under the patronage of Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasuriya, to honor the exceptional professional competence demonstrated by officers attached to the Fingerprint Bureau, Crime Analysis Unit, and Forensic Photography Unit of the Division. During the ceremony, a sum of Rs. 2,953,000 was symbolically distributed among 20 officers, while the total amount of prize money approved for this phase stands at Rs. 10,483,550, to be awarded to 335 officers in recognition of their meritorious service. It was noteworthy that a Police Inspector received a cash incentive for successfully resolving 45 serious crimes through fingerprint analysis. In addition, Police Constable 104595 Dulara Dilshan of the Crime Records Division was specially commended by the IGP for his courageous conduct in climbing to an upper floor during the fire that erupted in Kiribathgoda town on 21 January 2026, thereby demonstrating exceptional bravery in the line of duty. Furthermore, certificates were awarded to 21 officers who successfully completed the Primary Level in Fingerprinting, as well as to 11 officers who passed the Advanced Level in Fingerprinting. The event was attended by several senior police officials, including Director General of the Proceeds of Crime Investigation Division, Senior DIG Attorney-at-Law Mr. Asanga Karawita; Senior DIG in charge of Crime and Traffic, Mr. Ranmal Kodituwakku; Director of the Crime Records Division, SSP Mr. Ruwan Kumara; DIG of Human Resources Management and International Relations, Mr. Sisara Kumara; and DIG in charge of the Colombo Division, Mr. Nishantha de Zoysa, among others.

The assistance of the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL) is vital for ongoing and future police investigations, particularly those related to money laundering and terrorist financing. Accordingly, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed between the Sri Lanka Police and the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka at Police Headquarters on the evening of 29.01.2026, affirming mutual cooperation and information sharing between the two institutions. This agreement will facilitate the expeditious collection of relevant information by the Police, without the need for prior judicial intervention, to ascertain details of insurance policies held by suspects or institutions under investigation. The signing ceremony was attended by the Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya, the Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, Dr. Ajith Ravindra de Mel, along with senior officials and staff members of both institutions.

Officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau, with the assistance of personnel from the Sri Lanka Navy, intercepted and seized two fishing vessels transporting a large quantity of narcotics off the southern coast on 23.01.2026. The vessels, along with 11 suspects, were brought to the Dikowita Harbour on the morning of 25.01.2026. The arrested suspects are residents of the Ambalantota, Koswatta, and Beruwala areas and are aged between 24 and 50 years. A total of 270 packages containing 184 kg and 528 grams of heroin and 112 kg and 268 g of crystal methamphetamine (ice) were recovered and taken into police custody from the two vessels. The 11 suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Aluthgama Magistrate’s Court No. 01 on 25.01.2026, where police are expected to seek seven-day detention orders for further investigations.