Field Force Headquarters

We are all aware that the prestigious Sri Lanka Police Service marked its inception in 1861, between 1795 and 1948 A.D. when Sri Lanka was under British rule. Although this service remained unorganized at the outset, the police service was reorganised on 3rd September 1866 during the tenure of the first Inspector General of Police, Mr. Robert William Campbell, and the Police Ordinance No. 16 of 1867 was amended. Then, in December 1867, a plot of land claimed by a person named Manuel Fernando, opposite the Maradana Mosque, was purchased, and the Police Headquarters was established there in December 1869.

While the Sri Lanka Police Service, thus established, was engaged in the task of ensuring the protection of public and private property and the maintenance of law and order in the country, police teams had to be deployed to suppress the riots that broke out in the town of Karaiyur in Jaffna in 1867, the disturbance created in front of Maradana Police Headquarters due to a kidnapping of a 14-year-old girl in Maradana by a Catholic carpenter named SelandiAppu in 1870, and the clash between Buddhists and Catholics in Kotahena in 1883.

Since the police seemed to be dismayed by such riots, protests, disruptive, and various atrocious acts, the Inspector General of Police, being mindful of this situation under a new initiative, selected 25 officers who were in service and 25 sturdy outside persons to be utilized during emergencies and stationed them in a building adjacent to the Maradana Police Headquarters under the police inspector named Marshall.

Due to the lack of space at the current location, a barrack on Kew Road was selected, and a bugler was attached to be summoned in case of emergency. Its office was established under an Assistant Superintendent of Police in the adjoining building of Police Headquarters. It was established on 01 August 1892 and was known as Depot Police thereafter. The operations of the Depot Police, which was established as such, became successful in every way.

In the year 1925, Sri Lanka Police College was established at the said location, which is known as Police Field Force Headquarters in the present, having established two new two-storied buildings for Rs. 286,000.00 in the year 1923. At the location where the Police College was established in Kalutara at the present, there was a base belonging to the Royal Air Force. In 1948, after the removal of the said base, the Police College was relocated to Kalutara, and the Depot Police, which was located in Maradana, shifted to this place.

Thereafter, the main task of the Depot Police was to carry out duties on counterinsurgency, and in 1958, its capacity was expanded by establishing the armoury for small weapons to war weapons. Further, separate units such as a sports unit, police band, cultural unit, and a unit for first aid, etc., were also created under Depot Police.

In 1962, when an anti-government coup took place and an uprising broke out in the country, the then Superintendent of Police in charge of the Depot Police, Mr. T.H. Kelaart, immediately reorganized the Riot Control Unit and established 05 riot control teams consisting of 100 well-built officers, and appointed Sergeant Major Sarap as the trainer.

The activities of these teams were later successfully developed, and these officers were deployed for armed duty during the armed struggle that broke out in 1971. On 01.07.1977, the Depot Police was renamed as Police Field Force Headquarters, since several duties were performed in this place, and its head, which used to be called Superintendent of Depot Police, was named as the Commandant.

The first Commandant of the Sri Lanka Police is the Commandant of the Police Field Force Headquarters. By the 1980s, the Riot Control Unit was further developed and barracks named Vijaya and Gemunu were built to accommodate officers, and additionally, there were 04 barracks made of coconut fronds.

In 1983, a person was killed when the troops opened fire, under the leadership of then Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr. Ghafoor during anti-riot duty, near Sri Abhayarama Purana Viharaya Narahenpita. During the trial, it was proved to be justifiable homicide.

Police Field Force Headquarters, which was established in 1892,celebrates its 100thyearat this location. During this period it has gradually expanded and developed, and subsequently, new methodologies and strategies have been adopted to control riots and public uprising. Units such as Police Cultural Unit, Sports and Police Band, which presently function as divisions, had been administrated under this establishment. In addition to the above three divisions, Police Environment Protection Division presently functions as sub accounts Unit under Police Field Force Headquarters.

Having expanded the administration of this headquarters since 1993, it is presently established as a Police Range. Mr. M.D. Perera performed duties as the inaugural Deputy Inspector General of Police.Mr. A.G.J. Chandrakumara is presently serving as the 26thDeputy Inspector General of Police of Police Field Force Headquarters. Woman Senior Superintendent of Police Mrs. R.A. Darshika Kumari who is the first female Commandant of this establishment, performs duties as the 71stCommandantof the Police of Police Field Force Headquarters.