Special Events

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.

This year also, the Sri Lanka Police have organized and conducted several programs across the island to mark International Women’s Day (March 8). Among them, the program organized by the Police Seva Vanitha Sub-Unit was held on 12.03.2024 at the Auditorium of the Police Crime Records Division, Colombo, under the patronage of the Acting Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasuriya, and with the participation of his spouse, the Chairperson of the Police Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Nilmini Samaratunga. A lecture on personal and career development by veteran lecturer, Mr. Udaya Dewamulla; a lecture full of medical advice by Dr. Darshana Abeygunawardana, gynecologist; and a lecture on healthy living by Mr. Charith Gunathunga, nutritionist, were successfully conducted by the said guest speakers, and at the end of the program, all the women police officers who participated in this event representing functional divisions and police stations were presented with mementos to mark the event. The senior police officers, including Vice President of the Seva Vanitha Unit, Woman Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mrs. Nishani Senevirathna, in charge of Research and Information Technology Range, and the Secretary of the Seva Vanitha Unit, Woman Chief Police Inspector, Mrs. Nimali Fonseka, also participated in this event. The Vice President of the Seva Vanitha Unit, Research and Information Technology Directorate, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ms. Nishani Seneviratne, was present. The Secretary of the Unit, Ms. Chief Inspector of Police, Ms. Nimali Fonseka, and several senior police officers participated in the event.  

H. E. Andrew Patrick, the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka had a discussion with theActing Inspector General of Police, Mr. Priyantha Weerasuriya on 06.03.2025 to the Police Headquarters

Sub-Inspector of Police (Support Services) Chamod de Silva, who competed under number 96 for the Air Force Cycle Tour 2025, won the championship of the entire tour by securing second place in the first stage and first place in the second stage. Acting Inspector General of Police (Attorney at Law) Mr. Priyantha Weerasuriya called the respective athlete and ten other athletes who participated in the tour representing the Sri Lanka Police to the Police Headquarters on the morning of 04.03.2025 and praised and congratulated the athletes and the officials for their performance and dedication on behalf of Sri Lanka Police. At the invitation of the Inspector General of Police, a group of senior police officers from the police headquarters, including the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sampath Kumara Liyanage, in charge of the cycling team, and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr. Manoj Ranagala, the secretary, also participated in this event.

A new Police Station established formally in Keragala village in Divisional Secretary’s Division, Dompe of Gampaha district was declared open on 26-02-2025 under the leadership of Hon. Minister to the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ananda Wijepala. Hence a number of devotees from all over the country visits daily to the ancient Keragala Pathmawathi Piriven Rajamaha Viharaya, the necessity of establishing a formal Police Station has been discussed for a long time for the safety of those devotees, in addition to ensure law and order in the area. Previously, a Police Post had extended the service.    Accordingly, this new police station building was constructed in the land donated by the Kajuhena Karunaratne family and the contribution of the public in the area, and under the leadership and guidance of the chief incumbent of Keragala Pathmawathi Piriven Rajamaha Viharaya, Venerable Rajawela Vagiswaracharya Dharmakeerthi Sri Pajngananda Nandarathanabhidhana Nayaka Thero, Special Judicial and Mediation Chief Sanghanayaka of Sinadi Sivkorala. Hon. Deputy Minister to the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Sunil Watagala (Attorney-at-Law), Member of Parliament – Gampaha District, Mr. Upul Abeywickrama, Hon. Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Mr. Ravi Seneviratne, Acting Inspector General of Police Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya (Attorney-at-Law), Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Western Province Mr. Sanjeeva Dharmaratne have participated in this occasion.

On the occasion of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Administration Building of Police Field Force Headquarters – Bambalapitiya, All-Night ‘Pirith’ Chanting was held on 21-02-2025 in the Administration Building. Breakfast Alms-Giving was offered to the Venerable Bhikku on 22.02.2025. Hon. Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Rtd. Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ravi Seneviratne, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. J. K. Athukorala and Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Priyantha Weerasuriya (Attorney-at-Law) participated in this event. Hon. Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Rtd. Senior D. I. G. Mr. Ravi Seneviratne declared open the webpage of Police Field Force Headquarters, which is as an extension of the Sri Lanka Police official website, www.police.lk. Marking the grace of the occasion, the Commandant of Police Field Force Headquarters, Woman Senior Superintendent of Police, Mrs. Darshika Kumari, presented souvenirs to the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security and the Acting Inspector General of Police.

A ceremony to appraise male and female cadet crops and their instructors, who displayed excellent performance at the IGP Trophy Cadet Camp 2024, was held on 18.02.2025 at Kalutara Police Training College. They were enrolled for the cadet camp on 17.10.2024 at the Kalutara Police College. During the ceremony, certificates have been awarded to 316 students of 07 winning school teams and souvenirs have been given to 20 instructors and principals of such schools. This ceremony was held under the leadership of Hon. Minister to the Ministry of Public Security, Mr. Ananda Wijepala, and with the with the participation of the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Rtd. Senior D.I.G. Mr. Ravi Senaviratne and Acting Inspector General of Police (Attorney-at-Law) Mr. Priyantha Weerasuriya, amd with the guidance of Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Chinthaka Gunaratne – Director of Police Cadet Division. Souvenirs have been given to 100 Instructors of the winning teams. In addition to that, the Police officers who have extended outstanding service to the Police Cadet Division have also appraised by awarding Souvenirs. Senior Police Officers including Senior D.I.G. Mr. P. P. S. M Dharmaratne in charge of Western Province Range and Senior D. I. G. Mr. Sajeeva Medawatta in charge of Training & Higher Training Range have participated in this event.

Deputy Inspector General of Police D.G. Samantha de Silva, who was appointed as the new Commandant of the Police Special Task Force, which was established on 01 March 1983 with 60 officers and which is currently considered the best paramilitary force in South Asia, assumed duties at the Police Special Task Force Headquarters on the morning of 13th February 2025. Old pupils of Nalanda College and a large number of officers of the Sri Lanka Police and the Police Special Task Force participated in this occasion. Deputy Inspector General of Police Samantha de Silva received training as a probationary police officer of the Police Special Task Force Second Group on 01st December 1986 and reported for duties to the Police Special Task Force on 27 March 1987 from the Police College, Kalutara. He then successfully completed the 10th Combat Training Course and commenced operation duties from the Kaluwanchikudy Camp in the Batticaloa District in July 1987. As a founding member of the jungle warfare small teams established by the Special Task Force in 1988, he has contributed to several special operations in the battles against terrorists for nearly ten years attached to that sub-platoon. Among the officers of the inspectorate attached to those jungle warfare small teams, the only officer still in the service is Deputy Inspector General of Police D.G. Samantha de Silva. In May 1990, this officer led the control of the groups involved in the robbery of tourist hotels in the Sigiriya area and the recovery of valuable property belonging to foreign tourists and weapons that were in the possession of the robbery groups. While performing his duties in the Eastern Province for small group jungle warfare operations in 1990, this officer was seriously injured in a bomb attack during the battle to capture the Thangavelayadapuram camp in the Kanjikudichchiaru forest in the Ampara area. In 1996, he was transferred to the general police duties as an Inspector and was promoted to various posts. He served at the Ministerial Security Division, the Judicial Security Division, the IG Secretariat Division, the Ombudsman Division, and as the Director of Headquarters Administration. Having served as the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Range, he is a distinguished officer with extensive experience. We extend our wishes to Deputy Inspector General of Police Samantha de Silva, who has successfully performed his duties in various fields and has been appointed as the 14th Commandant of the Police Special Task Force, for leading the Police Special Task Force to maintain law and order in a public-friendly manner.

77th National Independence Day of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka celebrated ceremoniously on 04.02.2025 at the Independence Square, Colombo, under the patronage of the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Starting from the first Independence Day celebration in 1949, the Sri Lanka Police participated in this year’s Independence Day celebration as well under the leadership of the Acting Inspector General of Police (Attorney at Law) Mr. Priyantha Weerasuriya, having ensured the security of the ceremony. The ceremony commenced with the hoisting of the national flag by the president, who arrived at the ceremony escorted by police motorcycles. Thereafter, the 77th Independence Day Ceremony commenced with the parade including, Tri-forces, Police, Civil Security Force, National Cadet Corps. Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr. Nishantha Chandrasekara who splendidly mounted horses, led and commanded the parade of the Sri Lanka Police, which is the prime government establishment which ensures and secures law and order in the country, established on September 03, 1866. Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr. Anuranga Wellage and Assistant Superintendent of Police Ruchira Karunanayake were riding on accompanying horses while bearing swords. Subsequent to that, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr. Minura Senarath marched in the parade bearing the police flag embedded with the motto – ‘Dhammo Have Rakkathi Dhamma Chari’, and the image of an elephant symbolizing the strength of the Sri Lanka Police, which has a proud history of 158 years. Two Sub Inspectors of Police marched bearing swords on either side. Then, Police Band, the oldest band of Sri Lanka, established in 1873, which proudly performed the National Anthem at the first Independence Day celebration, joined with the National Day parade under the direction of Drum Major Mr. Thusita Piumal. Sri Lanka Police platoon commanded by Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr. Lasitha Abeywickrama marched in the parade, under the supervision of Chief Drill Instructor – Police Sergeant Mr. Wijekon traveled. Consequently, Women Police platoon commanded by Women Assistant Superintendent of Police Mrs. Inoka Liyanage, marched in the parade of Independence Day celebration. Subsequently, it was the proud moment that the Police Special Task Force, which was established in 1983 and which is dubbed “the greatest paramilitary force in South Asia”, joined the parade and saluted the President.  Attorney at Law, Waruna Jayasundara, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, serves as its Commandant.  The flag of the Special Task Force, with the motto of ‘Victory Assured’, was carried by Asela Sampath, Chief Inspector of Police.  The pride of the parade was expressed by the Special Task Force platoon commanded by P.K.N. Kulathunga, Assistant Superintendent of Police, which was led by the Police Special Task Force Band conducted by Drum Major Suneth Perera. R.M.S.K. Rathnayaka marched as the drill instructor of the Police Special Task Force.  Subsequently, the Police Mounted Officers, commanded by Mr. Kamal Paliskara, Senior Superintendent of Police joined the parade in its most colourful occasion. The Police mounted duties, established with 08 British police officers in 1921, have been recorded in history as the second occasion where mounted officers were deployed for police duties.   The rehearsals of the Independence Day parade were carried out, also in this year, under the supervision of Mr. Sajeewa Medawatte, Senior Superintendent of Police, Training and Higher Training, and commentary of the Police parade was done by Police Media Spokesperson Mr. Buddhika Manatunga, Attorney at Law, Senior Superintendent of Police.

The Sri Lanka Police has initiated and maintained the method of sending a fine sheet, against a driver who has made a traffic violation, which was identified using video footage obtained from police CCTV camera systems installed in Colombo and suburbs, to the home of the vehicle owner.Imposing the law for 12918 traffic violations thus observed until now, charge sheets along with the video showing the relevant violation have been sent to the police stations in the police area where the drivers who committed the relevant traffic violations reside.The need for new software arose due to the complexity of the software used so far for this process, which has caused great strain on the police officers performing the relevant duties.Accordingly, the new Traffic Violation Management Software, which is very user-friendly and has many technological improvements, which was obtained through the contribution of Prime Management Services (PVT) Ltd, was launched at the CCTV Division on 21.01.2025 under the patronage of the Acting Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Priyantha Weerasuriya.The software is to be used in the Police CCTV Division from today, 21.01.2025, to implement the law against drivers who do not drive obeying traffic rules properly.Led by the Inspector General of Police, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Crime and Traffic, Mr. Ranmal Kodituwakku, Deputy Inspector General, Colombo Range, Mr. N.P. Liyanage, Deputy Inspector General, CCTV Range, Engineer T.P. Gamlath, Police Media Spokesperson, Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr. Buddhika Manatunga, Senior Superintendent of Police, Colombo Central, Mr. Sugath Kumara, Director, CCTV Division, Mr. K.A.J. Kodithuwakku, and Mr. Ruchira Somarathna, Senior Manager of Prime Management Services (Pvt) Ltd, and the representatives of the said company, participated in the launch of the software.