2026-02-20 / Ministerial Statement: Strengthening state security mechanism to suppress crimes 2026-02-20
## Summary
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa responded to a ministerial answer on police recruitment and public security, making two key interventions. First, he proposed that recruitment should exceed the planned 10,000 officers to fill all 35,116 vacancies, citing deteriorating law and order, public security, and national security concerns, and pledged opposition support for such an expanded recruitment drive. Second, while acknowledging the value of community policing through Public Security Committees, he raised concerns about their politicisation, alleging that committee appointments in many areas have been made on a partisan basis and citing the specific case of Chairperson Yasanta Ariyasena being required to provide character certificates to obtain Police Reports — a practice he argued undermines the committees' effectiveness in combating crime and contradicts the government's stated commitment to pursuing criminals.
Then please give me that opportunity. It is good that time was given to the Hon. Minister; correspondingly, please also give me time.
Hon. Minister, thank you for providing a detailed answer.
First, I need a clarification from you. You stated in your answer that, against 35,116 vacancies, 10,000 will be recruited as an initial measure. Given the prevailing situation in the country regarding law and order, public security, the administration of justice and the rule of law, and serious threats to national security, I wish to propose—our support is assured—that, rather than only 10,000, a larger number be recruited to address the 35,116 vacancies.
You have also said that the Public Security Committees you have established are performing a significant task, and indeed, community policing—security operations centered on the community—is a globally accepted, successful approach. However, in the same answer, you stated that the Government is engaged in pursuing criminals. That is good, and we fully support the pursuit, arrest, and punishment of criminals.
Regrettably, I must also tell you this: the Government is not only pursuing criminals; it is also pursuing the Chairpersons of the Public Security Committees. I have already raised in this House—with goodwill and by name—that Mr. Yasanta Ariyasena, Chairperson of a Public Security Committee, is now being required to provide a character certificate and recommendations to obtain Police Reports, and that such certificates are being demanded from Public Security Committee Chairpersons. The Government said, “No, there is no such thing.” But in many, though not all, areas of the country, appointments to these Committees have been made on a partisan basis. When the composition of Public Security Committees is politicized, that is a grave obstacle to the process of arresting criminals.
Order, please! The Hon. Deputy Speaker will now take the Chair.
Whereupon the Hon. Speaker left the Chair, and the Hon. Deputy Speaker [The Hon. (Dr.) Rizvie Salih] took the Chair.