159th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Police falls today RULE OF LAW – ENSURE PUBLIC PEACE

The GO pay, the pilot project for the payment of traffic fine sheets through smart mobile phones, which was initiated by the current Inspector General of Police, is currently being implemented successfully.

The 159th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Police, an institution with a history spanning over a century and a half, will be celebrated on 03rd September 2025.   03rd September 1866, the day Mr. G. W. R. Campbell was appointed as the first Inspector General of Police, is recognised as the foundation day of the Sri Lanka Police.    Accordingly, having to celebrate 159th Police Day within a fortnight from Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya’s (Attorney-at-law) assuming duties as the 37th Inspector General of Police marks a significant milestone, since the day of assumption of duties in the office of Inspector General of Police is commemorated as the Police Day.   

Historical evidence substantiates the fact that there had been duties similar to the police duties even within the period when the system of monarchy prevailed in Sri Lanka.   

The police perform the duties throughout the day for the purpose of combating crimes, drug trafficking, vices and traffic accidents. The number of police officers deployed to carry out the duties assigned, including officers attached to the Police Special Task Force, is approximately 86,000. During the survey conducted by the present Inspector General of Police, it has been unveiled that Sri Lanka Polices does have a shortage of more than 30000 officers, required to perform police duties island wide.   

By 2025, Sri Lanka Police comprises of 608 police stations, 45 territorial divisions, and 78 functional divisions. Restructuring of the organizational structure has led police divisions and duties, and police ranges which have been established for police administration to new arena. When enforcing the law against crime and corruption, while ensuring law and order in the country, measures have been taken to provide an efficient police service through strategic and tactical approaches, having adopted new technology on devious tactics previously applied, as a result of new divisions established through the restructuring.  

Having embraced advanced technology, Sri Lanka Police embark Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and Automated Mug shot Identification System (AMIS) in order to create the safety of the nation while ensuring a peaceful and law-abiding society. Utilizing the technological advancement, Sri Lanka Police has established Automated Facial Recognition Systems (AFRS) at the Bandaranaike International Airport, to curb organized crime and drug tracking, and the new system supports to identify suspects in disguise at the departure and arrival. Consequently, immediate steps are taken to detain and arrest those suspects. Special arrangements have been made during this period to arrest the persons who lead local criminal gangs from overseas, and steps have been taken to extradite such criminals to Sri Lanka through diplomatic relationships and mutual legal assistance with overseas authorities.   

Having adopted a new procedure to address the traffic offences in order to minimize fatal road accidents and traffic accidents, measures, that have taken to ensure traffic management and road safety, have been expedited and enhanced. Subsequently, motor vehicles and roads in Colombo are monitored and surveilled with CCTV system 24 hours a day. It enables identifying criminals and those who violate traffic offences, and legal actions shall be taken against such perpetrators.   

The GO pay, the pilot project for the payment of traffic fine sheets through smart mobile phones, which was initiated by the current Inspector General of Police during his tenure as the Acting Inspector General of Police, is currently being implemented successfully.   

In addition to the 119 telephone service established by the Sri Lanka Police, 107 has been introduced as a new telephone number, and a method has been introduced for Tamil People to lodge complaints as well as to provide information on crimes in Tamil Language. Furthermore, the 109 telephone number has been established to provide immediate assistance to children and women across the Island and the opportunity has been provided to make complaints regarding crimes committed against children and women. Another special feature is that female officers have been deployed for this purpose 24 hours a day.   

The ‘Tell IGP’ system can be introduced as another vital service implemented by the police. The public has the ability to submit relevant complaints directly to the Inspector General of Police by accessing the official website of the police and selecting “Online Complain” under “E-Services”, and it is also noteworthy that a new telephone number, 071 - 8598888, was introduced after the Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasooriya (Attorney-at-Law), assumed duties, to submit complaints to the Inspector General of Police via a WhatsApp message.  

It is essential for every person to obtain a police clearance report to secure employment of their choice, no matter how qualified they are for the said profession or occupation. The Sri Lanka Police has further improved its online facilities to issue relevant reports more efficiently to those who obtain them. The service rendered in this regard, especially for those seeking foreign employment, is remarkable.   

Moreover, new social media platforms including the official website of the Sri Lanka Police, the YouTube channel, and the Facebook account are actively contributing to making the Sri Lanka Police a service that is closer to the public by providing information to the public on the role of the police. In addition, the 119E newspaper, the official e-newspaper of the Sri Lanka Police, is issued monthly by the Police Media Division for the use of police officers, with the aim of updating their knowledge and attitudes.   

Following the appointment of the new Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasooriya (Attorney-at-Law), awareness programs have been initiated in collaboration with the Bar Association of Sri Lanka to strengthen the judicial and criminal investigation process of the police, with the aim of restoring the pride that existed in the police in the past, for creating a peaceful environment, without fear of crime and violence as mentioned in the vision of the police.   

Under the guidance of the Ministry of Public Security, the problems that have arisen in new recruitments and promotions have been resolved in a very short period of time and the related Schemes of Recruitments for the junior, inspector’s grade and executive grades have been approved. Introducing a new salary scale for police officers, implementing projects at police station levels for the welfare of police officers, preparing new methods for giving rewards and commendations, introducing a new performance review to identify underperforming officers, holding a public day and reserving every Thursday for police officers to raise their concerns at the police headquarters has been carried out. ‘Terminating the service of the corrupted police officers, paying considerable attention, for maintaining the discipline of police officers at a significant level, is another worthwhile effort by the new Inspector General of Police to uphold the honour and reputation of the police.   

On this special day, we commemorate with pride all the police officers who have lost their lives while performing regular police duties and who were killed in action, and all police officers who entered into retirement after extending meritorious service, during the 159 years while integrating with Sri Lankan society, and the noble service rendered with supreme sacrifice, is commemorated with great honour.   

Police Media Division