Hon. Ananda Wijepala

## Summary Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala addressed concerns raised in debate regarding the Civil Defence Department (CDD), which employs 30,025 personnel. He outlined a restructuring plan to optimally deploy the workforce: 5,000 officers are being seconded to the Department of Wildlife Conservation (4,500 already placed, 500 to follow the next day), primarily to formalise their existing role in human-elephant conflict mitigation, while a further 10,000 will be seconded to the Police Department to address staffing gaps. The Minister rejected claims that seconded officers lacked food and lodging, stating that barrack accommodation is provided for all transferred personnel, and that Cabinet had recently approved a monthly food and accommodation allowance of Rs. 25,200 (Rs. 28,200 for senior grades). He affirmed that employment, salaries, pensions, and all other benefits are guaranteed for seconded officers, and noted that the basic salary had been increased from Rs. 27,680 to Rs. 41,985 in 2025, with a further Rs. 3,500 rise in the current year.

The Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Ananda Wijepala, formally moved the adjournment of Parliament, with the Speaker putting the motion to the House as a question. No substantive policy arguments or proposals were made beyond the procedural adjournment motion.

The Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs informed Parliament that 10,000 Civil Security Department (CSD) personnel are being attached to the Police to address manpower shortages, with deployment already underway across several districts including Ampara, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, and Monaragala. The Minister acknowledged logistical challenges in postings, particularly in the Western Province and within officers' home districts, and stated that the government will endeavour to post officers within their home districts where possible. He further noted that a Cabinet decision has been made to provide an additional monthly allowance of Rs. 25,200 to CSD officers attached to the Police to cover lodging and meals for those posted outside their home provinces.

Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala informed Parliament that the government has addressed police accommodation issues, particularly around Colombo, by purchasing a 352-unit housing complex from the Urban Development Authority for Rs. 4,100 million with Cabinet approval. He further noted that efforts are underway to expand and improve barracks and facilities at police stations across the country, with accommodation in relevant police areas arranged whenever transfers take place.

## Summary The Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs provided detailed answers to parliamentary questions covering two main areas: Sri Lanka Police staffing and organized crime/police integrity measures. On staffing, the Minister reported that the Sri Lanka Police comprises 608 stations with a total strength of 79,782 officers as of 15 February 2026, with vacancy details tabled separately. He outlined procedures for filling vacancies through both promotions—governed by National Police Commission guidelines with annual timelines—and new recruitments for which approvals have already been obtained for 2025 and 2026. On organized crime and police conduct, the Minister confirmed that arrests of organized criminals during 2024 and into mid-2025 have been tabulated by offence category, and acknowledged that circumstances conducive to officer misconduct have been studied. He outlined an extensive range of anti-corruption measures, including improved welfare and recognition programmes, continuous integrity training, a weekly IGP-led grievance forum, multiple public complaint channels, Internal Affairs Units across all provinces, intelligence monitoring of serving officers through the Police Special Task Force, and dedicated Special Investigation Units at both national and provincial levels to expedite inquiries against officers.

Hon. Ananda Wijepala, speaking in his capacity as Minister of Public Security, responded to the Leader of the Opposition's offer of support on law enforcement matters. He stated that arrests are made on the basis of analyzed intelligence, including phone records linking criminals to political figures, and cautioned against nominating individuals with criminal connections within political movements. Regarding a query on Public Security Committees, he acknowledged he had checked with the Senior DIG and committed to rechecking and reporting back responsibly. He called for cross-party unity in combating the underworld and narcotics trafficking, while noting that some information could not be disclosed publicly to avoid prejudicing ongoing investigations.

## Summary Hon. Ananda Wijepala, responding to opposition queries, addressed three areas: underworld crime, Police recruitment, and Public Security Committees. On crime, he defended the Government's anti-underworld efforts while counter-challenging the Opposition Leader to address criminal connections within their own party, citing alleged links between SJB local authority members and underworld figures including "Rangama Vidura" and "Kosgoda Suji." On Police recruitment, he confirmed 10,000 vacancies are being filled from a total shortfall of 35,116, with 1,500 already selected for training and a second recruitment Gazette expected imminently, noting the process takes a minimum of ten months due to mandatory screening and training stages. Regarding Public Security Committees, he clarified that an IGP circular has already established their non-political character, with the Grama Niladhari serving as Secretary and a Community Police Officer as Convener, and stated he would investigate an allegation raised by the Opposition Leader concerning CID summons.

## Summary Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala delivered a comprehensive response to a Standing Order 27(2) question from the Leader of the Opposition regarding policing and public security, while also providing an update on a recent lawyer's murder. The Minister reported a total police vacancy of 35,116 positions, attributing the shortfall to a 2021 recruitment freeze, ongoing attrition, and the expansion of police stations from 438 to 608 without corresponding recruitment; however, he announced approved recruitment of 10,000 personnel in 2026, including legal and medical officers. The Minister presented statistics showing a rising trend in organised crime incidents, from 76 incidents and 53 deaths in 2022 to 131 incidents and 63 deaths in 2025, alongside significantly increased drug seizures in 2025 compared to 2024 across heroin, methamphetamine, and cannabis. He outlined several remedial measures undertaken by the Government, including reorganisation of the Criminal Investigation Department, strengthened regional and international cooperation, a record 550 overseas police training placements in the previous year, and a successful joint operation with Indonesia that resulted in the repatriation of five suspects linked to Sri Lankan crimes.

The Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs informed Parliament that investigations following the arrest of underworld figure "Kehelbaddara Padme" are ongoing, with approximately 30 seized mobile phones being examined. He stated that evidence from these devices and recorded statements has revealed connections between the arrested individual and certain politicians, and that investigations into those politicians, including the recording of statements, are currently underway. The Minister indicated that a definitive statement on the matter would only be made upon completion of the investigations.

The Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs outlined the government's comprehensive two-pronged strategy to address the drug problem, combining supply suppression with demand reduction. On the supply side, the Tri-Forces, Police, and STF are conducting continuous operations against traffickers and distributors, while a multi-tiered institutional framework has been established under presidential leadership, including District and Divisional Committees and approximately 14,000 village-level Public Security Committees. For demand reduction, the government is prioritising rehabilitation over incarceration for users, with 25 district-based rehabilitation centres being established (12 operational), facilities in Mihintale, Ampara, and Colombo, and two additional centres set to open in March. The National Dangerous Drugs Control Board has trained 250 counsellors to triage users into appropriate care pathways, ranging from home-based rehabilitation to hospital treatment, alongside awareness programmes conducted through state and non-state institutions from school level upward.