By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  Courtesy The Daily Mirror

• 300 Police officers suspended in 2025 for corruption

In 2025, Sri Lanka witnessed an unprecedented crackdown on police corruption, with over 300 officers suspended for various offences, including direct involvement in drug trafficking and abuse of power, a Minister said.  

Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala said that the year has seen a dramatic rise in disciplinary action within the police force compared to 2024, where 200 officers were removed from their service in connection with the incidents related to misconduct, including having links to drug dealers and organised crime groups, assaults on suspects, deaths in custody, and illegal detentions.  

The year has already seen multiple high-profile incidents. In the latest incident, the OIC of the Okkampitiya Police Station has been suspended after he was arrested by officials of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption for allegedly soliciting a bribe of Rs. 40,000 from a businessman in Okkampitiya, in connection with a sand mining operation.

The Bribery Commission has arrested at least 10 police officers by mid-2025 on various bribery and corruption charges. One of the serious cases involved the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of Poovarasankulam Police Station, who was arrested inside his office for accepting a Rs. 500,000 bribe to settle a land dispute.  

Another serious case took place in Ragama, where two officers from the Western Province Crime Division were arrested for fabricating a narcotics possession case. The officers falsely accused a man of possessing 50 grams of illegal drugs and demanded Rs. 500,000 to drop the charges. They initially accepted Rs. 180,000 and held the victim’s wife’s passport as collateral before being caught during the final handover.  

While some of the suspended officers were involved in minor bribery, such as a constable in Arachchikattuwa who took Rs. 1,500 to issue a clearance certificate, others were deeply entangled in more severe crimes, including shielding known traffickers and planting false evidence.  

According to the reports, many police officers who had links with underworld figures and drug traffickers have also been suspended. Last month, three Police Constables attached to the Maradana Police Station were interdicted after being found to have maintained links with drug traffickers. In July, three police officers attached to stations in the Matara Police Division were suspended following misconduct at a spa in the Walgama area. In May, a police sergeant from Gokarella Police Station was suspended after a video went viral showing him assaulting a civilian during a late-night stop involving a man and a woman reportedly speeding on a motorcycle.  

The crackdown has also extended to officers using illegal drugs. According to the Ministry, dozens of officers have been dismissed after testing positive for substances such as heroin and synthetic drugs like ICE. Intelligence and Special Investigations units compiled a list of suspected officers, who were later tested and removed from service following confirmation by the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board.  

Minister Wijepala said that under the current government, roughly 2,000 to 3,000 internal investigations have been launched into police misconduct, particularly concerning links to drug trafficking and peddling and other organised crimes.  

He said that disciplinary action will be taken without exception, even against long-serving or senior officers. Some officers with over 25 years in public service have lost their pension rights due to corruption findings.  

The public must trust the police. We cannot afford to have a force tainted by criminality,” he said. These steps are critical in addressing our country’s drug crisis and restoring public confidence.”  

The minister also said that several top positions in key law enforcement institutions are currently filled by acting officials, as the former officeholders are under investigation or involved in ongoing legal matters.  

Why is that the case? The Controller General of Immigration is in remand custody. The Inspector General of Police has been imprisoned and is now out on bail. The Commissioner of Prisons was jailed in his prison and is also out on bail,” he said.  

As a result, these key institutions are now led by officials in acting roles. This is what happens when public service is treated as a mere job or a personal opportunity.”  

That is why we, as a government, must ensure that the law is enforced against anyone who commits an illegal act, regardless of their rank or position,” Minister Wijepala said.