Sri Lanka Police Marks 161st Police Heroes’ Day

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.