Big plans for restructuring as Police marks 156 years

The history associated with Police duties in Sri Lanka spans over more than two centuries. However, considering September 3, 1866, the day on which Sir G. W. R. Campbell was first appointed as Inspector General of Police, as the day Police service was constitutionally established, 156th Police Day is commemorated today.

Reflection on the history is the foundation of the development of an establishment. Historical details of the Police hold a significant value in bringing about a police service which promotes development by being more people-friendly and virtuous. As per a resolution was passed by the Colombo Municipal Council on June 10, 1650 after the conquest of the coastal areas by the Dutch, the deployment of four soldiers to control trade in the city of Colombo and to guard the city at night marks the inception of police duties in Sri Lanka, according to some sources.

In 1806, the British had enacted an ordinance for the performance of police duties outside the city of Colombo and by 1833, a police service in which a payment was made by the government had emerged.  By making the Police Ordinance, effective at the time, null and void in 1843, the governor was granted power to establish police stations in any city within the Island. Introducing the post of Inspector of Police in 1843, the number of officers had been increased and after abolition of the position of Police Peon, the post of Police Constable had been introduced. By the end of 1863, there had been 48 police stations and by 1867, a police headquarters was situated near the mosque in Maradana. Sir Richard Aluvihare was appointed the first Sri Lankan Inspector General of Police. Even the Department of Police has transformed itself by beginning to offer various duties by establishing and expanding the number of police stations throughout the Island.

Sri Lanka Police occupies an important place among the institutions which are instrumental in ensuring accountability and responsibility of the general public on behalf of the government. Therefore, during the attempts made by police to surmount all the obstacles against the maintenance of law and order, an estrangement between the police and the public has become a common occurrence. However, public relation is a sine qua non for the performance of police duties.

Police is the establishment which confronted all the protests and uprisings that were unleashed against the government. During the attempt to overthrow the government in 1971, the insurgents first attacked the police. During the war waged by the LTTE the said need was acutely felt. Similar incidents could be observed during the struggles that took place lately.  

Inspector General of Police C. D. Wickramaratne has introduced a project of restructuring the police and it is currently being implemented. Accordingly, a new structure of police administration has been introduced. According to the new structure, the number of Territorial Police Divisions was amended to 45 and Functional Police Divisions to 77, and the number of officers required for police service has been amended to 107,000. Accordingly, various divisions and police duties as well as ranges allocated for the police administration took a new appearance.

It is noteworthy how female police officers are also given opportunities to become officers in charge of Police Stations, Divisions and Ranges, guaranteeing gender equality. Furthermore, for the first time in history, 04 Woman Deputy Inspectors General of Police were appointed while providing them with the opportunity to reach up to the position of Inspector General of Police. Currently, there are 04 Woman Deputy Inspectors General of Police, 04 Woman Senior Superintendents of Police, 13 Woman Assistant Superintendents of Police, 1149 female officers of the Inspectors’ grade, 9464 female officers of Police Sergeant and Police Constable Grade serving in all areas of the island.   

A Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women has been established in all the 605 police stations that are currently functioning covering the entire island and Divisional Bureaus for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women have been established in all 45 Divisions.  Police is one of the organizations that discharges duties to establish the criminal justice system. Court, prison and probation are a few other institutions under the said system. As long as crimes are perpetrated in the society, services extended by the police are indispensable to the general public. If there is a Police area in which law-abiding and courteous people are living, the police station can be transferred to another village or the police force can be employed to achieve the social development goals. This can be achieved not in a society where the police and the people are divided but in a society where the group membership of each individual is equally accepted and honoured with feelings of mutual respect and independence.