A Political Warning or Something More? SLPP IGP Remark Sparks Investigation

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Colombo Central Crimes Investigation Bureau has launched a special investigation into controversial remarks made by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam regarding Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya, triggering a major political confrontation between the government and the opposition.

The controversy began following comments made by Kariyawasam during a media briefing at the SLPP headquarters on August 3, where he referred to the fate of former Inspectors General of Police and urged the incumbent Police Chief to serve the State and the public rather than the government. His remarks, which included references to the possibility of the IGP becoming another police chief to meet a tragic fate, quickly drew sharp criticism from government figures.

"We do not want him to go down in history as the 37th Inspector General of Police who died after being beaten on the roadside by members of the public," said Kariyawasam.

Responding at the Cabinet decisions media briefing, Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa described the statement as extremely serious and said it could not be dismissed as a casual political comment. He argued that the remarks appeared to suggest the possibility of harm being inflicted on the Inspector General of Police and therefore warranted a full police investigation.

"What is implied by that statement is that former MP Sagara Kariyawasam appears to be hinting at the possibility of the Inspector General of Police being assassinated in public. That is an extremely serious statement," he noted.

Jayatissa stressed that the current IGP is leading major operations against organized crime, drug trafficking, underworld networks, illicit financial activities and other criminal elements, resulting in a significant rise in arrests and remand orders. He maintained that remarks of this nature, made against the backdrop of ongoing law enforcement operations, required careful scrutiny and investigation.

Police later confirmed that a special inquiry had been initiated by the Colombo Central Crimes Investigation Bureau to examine the statement and the circumstances surrounding it.

The issue subsequently escalated in Parliament when SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa publicly defended Kariyawasam's comments. Rajapaksa argued that previous Inspectors General of Police who had aligned themselves with political interests had ultimately faced difficult consequences and warned against placing the current Police Chief in a similar position. He accused government members of attempting to politicize the Police Department and cautioned them against leaving the IGP vulnerable by expecting him to serve partisan interests.

His remarks drew immediate responses from government MPs, further intensifying the debate.

National People's Power MP Attorney-at-Law Susantha Dodawatta strongly condemned the original statement, alleging that it amounted to a death threat directed at the Inspector General of Police. He called on authorities to enforce the law and take action over what he described as a dangerous and unacceptable remark.

Dodawatta also rejected comparisons with former Inspectors General of Police, arguing that those officials had faced consequences due to actions taken in accordance with political agendas. He maintained that the current Police Chief was carrying out his duties according to the law and stated that the rule of law must be allowed to operate without political interference.