Can new IGP put SL Police in order?

The Supreme Court this week declared that the former Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Hasalaka Police Station had violated the Fundamental Rights of a woman who was arrested and detained for wearing an item of clothing bearing a ship’s wheel, which was mistakenly interpreted as a depiction of the sacred Buddhist symbol, the Dhammachakra.

The SC ordered the former OIC to pay Rs. 30,000 in compensation to Abdul Raheem Masaheena, 47, a resident of Kolongoda, from his personal funds after violating her fundamental rights.

In another tragic case that came to light this week, the Mount Lavinia Lawyers’ Association raised serious concerns over wrongful detentions in drug-related cases following the death of a suspect who was posthumously cleared of all charges.

Keerthi Fernando, Secretary of the Association, told reporters that a suspect who had been wrongfully detained and later released by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court yesterday was no longer alive, having died by suicide due to the mental toll of his incarceration.

The individual had been arrested by the Dehiwala Police in May 2024 for alleged possession of 3,200 mg of heroin—a non-bailable offence under Sri Lankan law. He was remanded for three months before being granted bail by the High Court. However, two months later, he took his own life, reportedly due to the psychological stress caused by his prolonged and unjust detention.

These cases highlight the systemic shortcomings in the Sri Lanka law enforcement system as well as the judicial process where justice comes too late for people. While in the case of the woman arrested for wearing a dress with the ship’s wheel there was some vindication, for the man falsely charged with possession of drugs, the end was tragic.

There are many cases in Sri Lanka where people are hauled up before courts for the most ridiculous and travail reasons whereas those who commit major crimes get off scot-free. A man who plucks a mango from a neighbour’s garden gets jailed while those who rob billions are free. A woman with a tattoo gets arrested, a young man who posts his views on social media gets detained under some draconian law while underworld operators and their accomplices are given VIP treatment in prison.

All the available laws are used to harass ordinary members of the public and public money and time spent to make them look guilty including in cases where they should be discharged outright.

When it comes to drugs, it is widely known that the Police are notorious for introducing illegal substances and framing persons. There is no transparency on what happens to seized illegal drugs. One former minister told parliament that some of the samples sent to the Government analysts as heroin or cannabis have been found to be white flour or powdered paracetamol which itself is an indictment on the Police for this country.

While the Police spend time, money and energy pursuing such cases, there is no let-up in gang violence in the country. By this week, there have been 70 shooting incidents reported this year with over 36 deaths, probably a record that even countries with bigger populations cannot rival. The Police have been carrying out ad hoc operations but there is no proper plan to combat gang violence.

Acting Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya is no doubt waiting in the wings to have his name confirmed in the next few days as the new IGP with the ouster of IGP Deshabandu Thennakoon a foregone conclusion. However, there will be serious questions about his ability to end the increasing violent crimes in the country though he’s been in the post for over 10 months.

What the Police Department needs is a leader who will not play lackey to politicians but someone who follows the rules and takes his job seriously. Unfortunately what the country has seen so far are IGPs willing to run behind politicians and do their bidding while paying scant attention to law and order or ensuring the rights of the public.