Why no alcohol test?

Any attempt by the government to sweep the incident under the carpet would undermine its claim to moral elevation

The police always face the allegation that law enforcement is not even-handed. The saying ‘one law for the rich and another for the poor’ is  commonly heard among the ordinary folks.  Or else, they would say ‘big fish escape, small fish get caught’. With the politicisation of the police service, people started doubting fairness in law enforcement. The current government pledged to end politicisation of the law enforcement agencies.   At times, the police are used to fear taking action against those with political clout, fearing repercussions. In the past, there were numerous instances in which police officers   were transferred merely over their attempts to implement the law against   politicians or their henchmen. 

Now, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasuriya has instructed the Police Special Investigation Unit to initiate a preliminary investigation into the conduct of the relevant officers who allegedly failed to discharge duty properly regarding the accident involving former Speaker Asoka Ranwala.

The media reported that  several police officers, including the OIC (Officer-in Charge) ,and  the Traffic OIC of the Sapugaskanda Police Station had failed to properly discharge their duties in relation to a road accident involving him. The accident occurred on December 11, 2025, when a jeep driven by Mr.  Ranwala collided with a motorcycle and a car near the Denimulla Junction in Sapugaskanda. The allegation against the police was that a breathalyser test was not conducted.

In the face of allegations that Mr. Ranwala was drunk by the time of the accident, the government which positioned itself on  moral high ground has begun to lose face.  Veracity of this allegation is yet to be ascertained. In today’s society, public perceptions can be built even based on misinformation and disinformation.  Once such a perception takes hold, it involves a cost to the party concerned -- in this case the government.

The ruling side, which claims to occupy a high moral pedestal, is attempting to absolve itself of any wrongdoing in the enforcement of the law in connection with the road accident involving Mr. Ranwala.

As far as police conduct is concerned, people can make a few conclusions. The police did not take action to conduct an alcohol test fearing repercussions to be faced in the future as it was an accident that involved a government VIP. Or else, the police received instructions from higher-ups not to proceed with such testing. Probably, the police did not have facilities for testing at the time.  Only an investigation can ferret out the truth.  Police spokesman F.U. Wootler   once said it is questionable why the police did not carry out the alcohol test.

Any attempt by the government to sweep the incident under the carpet would undermine its claim to moral elevation.

Against the backdrop, the government might have resorted to taking the police to task. Now it is the responsibility of the media to pursue the case till the truth is established.  It is not for humiliation or vilification of the government on political grounds. It is the duty of the media to hold any government to account.

In this instance, it is important to closely monitor the investigation into police conduct—specifically, why an alcohol test was not conducted, and whether this amounted to dereliction of duty,  or a deliberate omission driven by fear of repercussions, as seen in the past. It is not time for the media to depend on processed information. Instead, the media should think of content critically.  

Also, the issue is not merely whether an alcohol test was conducted or omitted, but whether the law is enforced without fear or favour when political power is involved. For decades, the police have struggled under the weight of politicisation.

The decision to initiate an inquiry into police conduct is a necessary first step, but it cannot be the final one. Accountability must be visible, outcomes must be communicated transparently, and institutional lessons must follow. Otherwise, the investigation risks being perceived as damage control rather than a genuine search for truth.  

Already, a number of government politicians have rushed to defend Mr. Ranwala.  People have every reason to believe that the government will try to cover up his case.  This is not the first time he was involved in a controversy.

In fact, he was compelled to step down from the post of Speaker following reports that he did not possess doctoral credentials from a university in Japan as claimed earlier. To date, he has been unable to substantiate those academic qualifications. In this context, it becomes particularly important to ascertain why the police failed to conduct an alcohol test.