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September 3 - Sri Lanka Police Day

Guardians of the Law

by damith
September 2, 2023 1:19 am 0 comment

The law is the highest provision in our Constitution which enables us to live our lives with dignity. For a society to flourish, the law must be implemented without fear or favour. As we grow in a digitally enhanced environment it is a challenge to maintain law and order, alongside public security. This onerous task is bestowed on the Sri Lanka Police which has a history of more than 150 years, making it one of the oldest police forces in Asia. This narrative is dedicated to those honest and diligent cops who strive to uphold the law.

Brief history

During the Portuguese rule in Ceylon, they did not have a Police Force. Subsequently, the Dutch gained control of the Maritime Provinces by 1658. The Colombo Municipality initiated a system of hiring paid guards to patrol Colombo city at night. Once the British began to rule Ceylon, the Office of the Fiscal was empowered to supervise basic police duties.

Governor Frederick North began to redefine the functions of the Police in 1805. Later he directed that Colombo city be divided into 15 divisions. Police Constables were recruited and trained. The Governor was keen to restructure the Police and made a request to the Governor of Bombay to recommend a diligent officer and George William Campbell was duly sent to Ceylon. Campbell assumed duties as the first Chief Superintendent of Police on September 3, 1866. This date is recorded as the day that the uniformed Police Force was established in Ceylon.

In 1867, the first Police Headquarters was set up in Maradana. The Police Headquarters was later shifted to Fort in 1932 from where it operates to this day. In 1947, Richard Aluvihare became the first Sri Lankan to be appointed as Inspector General of Police. He is credited with transforming the Police Force.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was initiated in 1870. The CID probes complicated crimes with specialized branches dealing with homicide, gang robbery, frauds and counterfeit currency. The CID is the coordinating point of contact for Interpol.

Steps have been taken to update the Fingerprint Branch with AFIS (Automated Finger Identification System) which is presently linked to 42 territorial sections where a suspect’s fingerprint(s) can be matched online within three minutes. There are over 47,000 fingerprints of IRCs (Island Reconvicted Criminals). The CID has also embarked on a program to update facial recognition technology, whereby comparisons can be made from CCTV footage.

IGP Richard Aluvihare introduced the Police Kennels division, which is presently headquartered in Asgiriya, Kandy and operates from 54 units, island wide with strength of 200 plus trained dogs who excel in narcotics and explosives detection. As vehicles began to converge on the once quiet streets of Colombo the Traffic Range was set up and it today has blossomed into an active unit with a highway patrol. In 1952 for the first time VHF Radio was introduced to connect all stations enhancing communications facilities. Today that facility is coordinated from Mirihana. The Police Narcotic Prevention Bureau was set up in 1973 and has conducted many successful raids seizing large hauls of narcotic substances.

Today police officers are the first responders to control violent protesters at public venues and other emergency situations. In addition, policemen provide security to the esteemed courts and senior members of the judiciary. Highly trained policemen work in the close protection teams of VIPs under the PSD and MSD.

Police Heroes

During the three decades of conflict, many police officers were killed and others remain disabled. Policemen played an important role in defending border villages. They manned checkpoints by day and night. Some policemen detected concealed explosives and saved many lives. Some of these silent heroes include DIG Charles Wijewardena (killed in Jaffna), DIG T.N. de Silva (killed in Colombo bomb blast 1999), SSP Chandra Perera (killed in Jaffna 1998), DIG Terrence Perera, Director Counter Subversive Unit (killed in 1987) and DIG Bennet Perera (Director CID killed 1989). Both SSP Ronnie Gunasinghe and SSP Sirimal Perera (PSO to the then President) were killed in the May Day bomb blast (1993).

To date 3,100 officers of the Sri Lanka Police have been killed in the line of duty. Many have been awarded with the President’s Gallantry Medal. We must remember the sacrifice of these officers who laid down their lives, leaving behind their wives and children.

STF Heroes

The Police Department established the Special Task Force (STF) in 1983 under the direction of its visionary founder late Mr. Ravi Jayewardene. These officers received training in counter-insurgency operations and today play a pivotal role in the areas of counter terrorism, hostage rescue, bomb disposal (EOD) and transport of high profile prisoners. The men and women serving within the STF have displayed high levels of teamwork and discipline. The STF can also be credited as the pioneers of Close Protection Operations (VIP security) in Sri Lanka. To date 464 Special Task Force personnel have been killed in the line of duty.

Among these heroes, three outstanding senior officers gallantly died in action. The first was ASP Sarath Mahinda Ratnaweerage (who was in the Close Protection Team of the President at the May Day rally). The explosion also killed Chief Inspector Upali Silva of the STF. The other senior STF officers who died in separate attacks were SSP Upali Sahabandhu and SSP Upul Seniviratne – both were posthumously promoted to the rank of DIG.The great work done by the late DIG Sahabandhu to uplift the STF Training Academy at Katukurunda will be remembered for decades. He was an exceptional human being, diligent police officer and visionary leader.

Over the years the Special Task Force has expanded to boast of specialized branches such as- CBRNE Teams (for response to Chemical and Radiological incidents), SWAT Teams to breech and assault tactically difficult situations and QRT Section to deploy armed riders to any location. STF has played an immense role in anti- narcotics raids and combatting underworld gang leaders.

During the Covid 19 pandemic the Sri Lanka Police assisted the public in many ways, trying to combat the spread of virus and ensuring the return of normalcy. The Mounted Police Division maintains more than a century of ceremonial riding traditions, and engages in daily traffic duty in Colombo Fort area. Thousands of traffic policemen and policewomen stand on our roads, in rain or sunshine and their duty must be appreciated. The Police Inspectorate (officers holding SI/IP/CI ranks) is the hardworking backbone of Sri Lanka Police. These Inspectors must be given good welfare facilities and timely promotions, on merit.

Sri Lanka is a multi-cultural nation. “It is not our differences that divide us, but our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences” – American poet Audre Lorde once said. Our beautiful Motherland Sri Lanka is a nation embellished with centuries of recorded history. Through refined Community Policing the police can unite and empower this nation with peace for all Sri Lankans.

Dishan Joseph

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