Remembering police heroes: They died to protect us

Today is a day of great significance as it marks the remembrance of fallen Police Heroes who have courageously sacrificed their lives throughout a period of 155 years to protect the lives and property of Sri Lankan citizens.   
Sri Lanka Police is the establishment which is entrusted with the great responsibility of ensuring the safety of the general public of our motherland from the moment of their conception, birth and existence as social beings until their demise. Adopting the Buddhist words of wisdom, “Dhammo hawe rakkhathi dhammachari” (One who lives by the Dhamma is protected by the Dhamma) as its motto while wearing the emblem bearing a dauntless tusker in the middle and the dharma chakra (Dharma Wheel) on the head, the Sri Lanka Police are dedicated to uphold law and order while safeguarding lives and property of the Sri Lankan community. Arrangements have been made at 0800 hrs. today in all the Police Divisions throughout the country to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives throughout history for such a prestigious service.   

The grand ceremony will be held at 0800 hrs. before the memorial of Police Hero Sabhan of the Mawanella Police Area in the Kegalle District under the leadership of Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara with the participation of Police officers, their family members and Police officers who have become disabled.   
On March 21, 1864, in Utuwankanda area at Mawanella in the Kegalle District, during an operation to arrest a suspect named Deekiri Kewage Saradiel, Police Constable Sabhan succumbed to gunshot injuries when a gun was fired by an accomplice of Saradiel named Mammale Marikkar. In remembrance of Police Constable Sabhan, the first Police officer who sacrificed his life to establish law and order in this country, March 21 of each year has been named as the Police Heroes’ Day.   
The Police Force had been formally established in 1866 with legal authority and Police Constable Sabhan’s ultimate sacrifice with the sole intention of ensuring law and order in this country two years prior to this also gave an impetus to its establishment. The objective of celebrating ‘Police Heroes’ Day,’ is to commemorate police heroes who either made the supreme sacrifice or sweated blood, throughout the past 155 years to maintain law and order and protect lives and property of the public.   
All the officers who had sacrificed their precious lives had hoped for a better life for the people of this glorious country and the future generation. We should never forget the fact that the freedom we enjoy today is a result of supreme sacrifices made by those heroes.   

The immeasurable service rendered by police officers who are committed to serving the country and the public can never be underestimated. They are not just limited to their profession when they help your child cross the road while trusting someone else to take care of their own. Police officers keep a round-the-clock vigil regardless of extreme weather conditions and their own comfort and leisure.   
Police officers are always dedicated to building a peaceful environment by preventing crime and maintaining law and order in the country. Innumerable are the instances when the police officers were killed and injured while they were in pursuit of criminals with the idea of maintaining peace in the country. We can recall a list of police heroes who sacrificed their precious lives even in the recent past while discharging their duties.   
The tragic demise of the officers, such as, Police Constable 49446 Chaminda Abeywickrama, who was performing duties at Police Narcotics Bureau, was shot dead while he was inside the car with his fellow officers during a raid at Piliyandala on May 9, 2017; Police Constable 24330 Sarath Premachandra, who was discharging duties as the security officer of Mr. Ilancheliyan, High Court Judge in Jaffna on July 21, 2017; Police Constable 5355 Prasanna Wijewardana Godagama, who was shot dead during a narcotic raid in Monaragala on March 7, 2018; Police Sargent 88587 Dilan Sampath Dasanayaka, who sacrificed his life on May 2, 2018 while attempting to rescue a family affected by floods in the Madampe Police Area; Police Sergeant 8624 Ganesh Dinesh and Police Sergeant 82162 Indika Prasanna at the Vavunativu check point in the Vavunativu area of the Batticaloa Division, who were shot dead on November 29, 2018 and Police Inspector Ananda Sagara Sarathchandra, who was the OIC of the traffic branch of Borella Police Station on March 10, 2019 shows how valiantly they performed their duties for the country. Even tomorrow, Police officers will serve the country dauntlessly even putting their own lives in jeopardy to make our country a peaceful nation, where everyone can live without fear of crime.   

During the proud journey of the Sri Lanka Police while facing innumerable challenges 3,124 Police Officers have sacrificed their lives to protect the dignity of Sri Lanka Police in various ranks. In addition, 1,531 officers have become disabled while performing their duty.   
While appreciating the service of the Police officers who sacrificed their lives, the Sri Lanka Police is dedicated to serve the officers and their relatives better from the police stations and police officers at present and in the future.   
Only the officers well trained and determined with patriotism can be the owners of the honourable mission of safeguarding a country for a better future of its people and protect law and order of the country. Other than that they are the guardians of life and property. In addition, only those officers can do their duties at the risk of their lives. Living away from their kith and kin, police officers will continue their endless mission yesterday, today and tomorrow bravely and tirelessly.