Hon. Ananda Wijepala

Hon. Speaker, the question raised yesterday by the Leader of the Opposition under Standing Order 27(2) spans complex and wide-ranging issues. I present the Government’s response, and I will also update the House on several points regarding the recent murder of a lawyer. 1) Police cadre and vacancies (as at 17.02.2026): - Total current vacancies: 35,116 - STF: 3,815 - Auxiliary services: 1,682 Reasons for vacancies include: - Recruitment freeze per Circular No. 03/21 dated 21.12.2021, which prevented open recruitment to match annual attrition. - Attrition through retirements, deaths, resignations, dismissals, terminations, cancellations of appointments and desertions. - Increase in police stations from 438 to 608 in past administrations without corresponding recruitment and infrastructure, contributing to growth in vacancies. Notwithstanding constraints, approval has been granted to recruit 10,000 personnel this year, including 100 legal officers for the Police Department, 25 medical officers and 1,390 for support services. As at present, in addition to the above vacancies, the following affect effective strength: 2,411 have left service (deserted), 1,153 interdicted, 467 on foreign leave, 467 on local leave, 18 on peacekeeping/conciliation duties and 4,245 disabled. Consequently, the number in position is significantly below the sanctioned cadre. 2) Organized crime statistics (recorded as a separate category since 2022): - 2022: - Shootings: 63 incidents | 45 deaths - Sharp-weapon/assault offences: 13 | 8 - Other: — - Total: 76 | 53 - 2023: - Shootings: 81 | 40 - Sharp-weapon/assault: 21 | 14 - Other: — - Total: 102 | 54 - 2024: - Shootings: 74 | 51 - Sharp-weapon/assault: 6 | — - Other: — - Total: 94 | 57 - 2025: - Shootings: 102 | 53 - Sharp-weapon/assault: 17 | 9 - Other: 12 | 1 - Total: 131 | 63 - 2026 (up to 17.02.2026): - Shootings: 9 | 8 - Sharp-weapon/assault: — | — - Other: — - Total: 12 | 8 Despite shortages, enhanced efficiency has resulted in higher recoveries of illegal firearms and ammunition this year compared to last year. 3) Drugs—seizures since 01.01.2025: - Heroin: 2,020.168 kg - Methamphetamine (Ice): 14,013.563 kg - Cannabis (Ganja): 15,564.788 kg - Cocaine: 43.374 kg - Narcotic pills: 4,875,712 units - Illicit cigarettes: 2,157,540 sticks - Suspects arrested: 281,320 Comparison 2024 vs 2025: - 2024: Heroin 832.360 kg | Ice 1,364.254 kg | Ganja 8,359.501 kg - 2025: Heroin 1,821.174 kg | Ice 3,865.710 kg | Ganja 17,189.377 kg 4) Firearms seized (selected aggregates): - 2024 total: 2,414 (including pistols, T-56/other rifles, repeaters, 12-bore, etc., and one AK-47) - 2025 total: 2,375 (including two T-81 rifles) - 2026 to date: 218 5) Key measures undertaken: - Reorganized the Criminal Investigation Department and established the Central Crime Investigation Division; commenced Provincial Crime Investigation Divisions to raise performance. - Strengthened regional cooperation against organized crime and narcotics trafficking, concluding relevant MoUs. - Intensified anti-crime and anti-narcotics operations have driven many perpetrators to operate from overseas; investigations into these activities are ongoing. - Training: last year, 550 police officers—the highest ever in a single year—were sent for overseas training on modern crime-fighting methods, via cooperation with foreign police and state agencies. - International operations: A successful operation in Indonesia led to apprehending five perpetrators linked to crimes and drug trafficking in Sri Lanka and bringing them back to the country. - Intelligence strengthened to identify organized crime group members and narcotics traffickers, enabling disruption of their operations. - Maintaining a database of organized crime group members, drug traffickers and their associates, including fingerprint records. - Rewards and commendations: Rs. 1,918 million paid in rewards and commendations granted to officers for successful operations. - Many perpetrators are deserters or persons with military training; a rehabilitation programme is being implemented for such individuals. - Drafting new legislation to close legal gaps in suppressing organized crime. - Largest-ever asset forfeitures from criminals and drug traffickers have been effected; details are tabled as Annex 02. - Ensured an operating environment free of political interference or patronage; operations are conducted independently. - No one—whether from the armed forces, police or politics—is above the law; legal action will be taken irrespective of status. - Police remuneration: A Cabinet Subcommittee is examining possibilities to enhance police salaries and allowances, which are relatively low. - Community relations: Under IGP Circular No. 2578/2023(ii) and Administrative Circular No. 07/2023(ii) of 25.10.2025, Public Security Committees are being systematized to strengthen police–public engagement. - Special Task Force (STF): 17 STF teams are dedicated to pursuing major organized crime groups; each team tracks a specific group. - Data integration and custodial coordination: Regular coordination with the Prison Department; mobile phones detected in prisons are shared with CID, intelligence units and the state intelligence service for analysis. - Joint special search operations are being conducted continuously with the tri-forces. - Rapid information-sharing: Using IT and WhatsApp to disseminate crime-related alerts instantly to all police stations, enabling swift, coordinated responses. - Interpol cooperation: - 225 Red Notices issued for suspects and convicts abroad; 91 identified as organized criminals. - 95 overseas suspects without pending cases publicized via official Interpol notices. - Since 21.09.2024, 20 suspects have been brought back to Sri Lanka on Red Notices; a further 12 have been deported through diplomatic cooperation without Red Notices. - 31 Red Notice subjects have been located in countries including India, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Russia, France, Canada and Thailand; coordination is underway to deport them, with some already in custody abroad. - Extradition requests have been submitted for 11 organized criminals arrested abroad under Red Notices. - Liaison officers are being positioned to fast-track coordination with law enforcement in the UAE, Thailand, Malaysia, India and other relevant countries. - Airport security: - A special protocol is in force at the airport to identify fleeing organized criminals. - The facial recognition camera system at the airport perimeter is being upgraded and integrated with the Department of Immigration and Emigration and the Department for Registration of Persons, to enable unified, real-time identification. 6) Updates on specific cases: - Murder of MP Nadarajah Raviraj (10.11.2006) and his police guard: - Indictments were filed in Colombo High Court Case No. 8331/16 against seven accused. Following a jury trial in 2016, accused 1–6 were acquitted by unanimous verdict on 23.12.2016; the 7th suspect had earlier been discharged by the Attorney General for lack of evidence. The Attorney General has appealed (CA(PHC)APN 11/17); the case is to be listed. - Abduction and disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda (24.01.2010): - Indictments filed before the Colombo Trial-at-Bar (Case No. 725/19). The matter is ongoing; next date 04.05.2026. - Murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge: - Three suspects were arrested; extracts were sent to the Attorney General on 11.02.2020 (CR 140/20). The Galle High Court Case B.92/09 is to be called on 27.02.2026. - Death of ruggerite Mohamed Wasim Thajudeen (17.05.2012): - Investigative extracts were sent to the Attorney General (CR1/111/15 CM). The AG named Angoda Don Sumith Dhammika Perera as a State witness and discharged him. Indictments were filed against Tholkgamudali Anura Senanayake and Dr. Ananda Samarasekera in Colombo High Court cases 352/19 and 634/19; both accused died prior to trial and proceedings have been terminated. The related Magistrate’s Court case B 849/12/03 was called on 28.08.2025 and postponed to 06.02.2026 for the AG’s position to be intimated to Court. 7) Akuregoda double murder (13.02.2026): - Time and place: Between 1.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m., in front of Keells Super, Akuregoda, within the Talangama Police Division. - Victims: Buddhika Mallawaarachchi of Athurugiriya and Ms. Nisansala Maali. - Case: Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court Case No. 7516/26. - Investigation: - 128 police officers have been deployed. - The perpetrators’ vehicle (No. 181-7738) used in the crime was found burned in Baddegama and seized. - The vehicle used to transport firearms to the perpetrators (No. KS-8987) was seized in Kottawa. - The vehicle in which the perpetrators were lodged prior to the crime (No. KW-8733) has been identified; its owner has been traced. - Arrests made: - Sanoj Kokila Liyanarachchi (transported and supplied firearms to the shooters). - A second suspect involved in transporting firearms. - Don Dilina Pramoda Hapuarachchi alias “Dila” (rented a vehicle and handled transport for suspects 1 and 2). - The shooter who used a revolver has been identified as Rubas Suresh of Rukgahawila; extensive operations are underway to arrest him. - The owner of the lodging vehicle KW-8733 has been identified as Wanniarachchige Sihina Dilsara of Aetkaladura, Galle; steps are being taken to apprehend him and secure the vehicle. - The mastermind is identified as fugitive organized crime and drug trafficker “OQ,” namely Uggalla Arachchige Tarindu Madhushanka, operating from overseas. Broad investigations are in progress to apprehend all perpetrators. Thank you. - Placed in the Library (Annexes 01 and 02).