Police need better approach to handling high profile criminal cases

While the efforts of the Sri Lanka Police in tracking down organised criminal gang members, especially those engaged in the illicit drug trade, is laudable, there are serious questions about the manner in which such operations are being handled. 

It has become commonplace to see plain clothed Police officers accompanying alleged gang members after their extradition from different countries with cameras rolling as they are brought out of the airport and bundled into Police jeeps. The same is true of when these men and sometimes women are produced in Court. They are exposed not only to the media cameras, but also to the public which raises questions about how serious the police are about protecting these suspects.

Take  the case of Nadun Chinthaka Wickremeratne, better known as "Harak Kata," who has been in custody since 2023. Given that the man has many who may want to see him dead,  it’s  logical to think that there could be attempts to kill him on the way to or from prison.  But in May this year, when ‘Harak Kata” was produced in Court and was being taken away he was allowed to make comments to the media. During the interaction, he found enough time to allege that a former minister and senior police officer had demanded a Rs. 300 million bribe to have him released, a politically convenient comment to make. The recent arrest of Rakitha Rajapakshe, the son of former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and Charith Abeysinghe, the organiser of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) for the Horana is also related to the same suspect and the solicitation of a bribe to facilitate his release from investigations and related legal proceedings. 

While the Police may be acting in good faith when it comes to rounding up such high-profile criminals, exposing these suspects in the manner it happens raises serious questions, After underworld gang leader Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne, alias  "Ganemulla Sanjeewa," was shot dead inside a courtroom at the Hulftsdorp Magistrate's Court Complex in Colombo in February 2025, discussions took place to facilitate high profile criminals to be produced during Court hearings through video links. However, despite this, they continue to be paraded publicly.

Investigations into drug related cases are highly sensitive in nature but the police are making a mockery of their work at times.

Take the claims of raids on factories mass producing ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine) in Kandana and Wadduwa made some months ago. After all the sensational claims in front of the cameras, the Government Analyst's Department found no such chemicals in the samples sent to it and the whole matter became a matter of ridicule. While sensational news is lapped up by the public, it does little to help the prosecution to successfully convict the suspects who are in custody.

Another aspect is that exposing the Police officers involved also puts their lives under threat. Hence it’s important that their identity is not exposed.

It’s clear  that the Government on its part is keen to show the public that it is making serious efforts to crackdown on those engaged in the drug trade as well as expose the nexus between these criminals and politicians. A part of this is to widely publicise high profile arrests and pave the way for ‘trial by media’ that gives an instant boost to the Government’s  image than long drawn-out Court cases some of which could either result in the successful prosecution of the suspects or their release.

For those engaged in the hard work of building a solid case against criminals, widely publicising arrests, building public narratives will not be helpful if there are no credible witnesses and adequate forensic evidence to secure a successful conviction. Hence by keeping facts related to such cases under wraps till they’re presented in Court, both the Police and state prosecutors have a better chance of building strong cases. What’s happening now is a lot of noise that fizzles out  within days.