2026-03-03 / Oral Question: Police Stations and Strength (Q.1174/2025) 2026-03-03
## 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.
Mr. Speaker, the answers are as follows.
(a)
(i) Police stations: 608.
(ii) As at 15.02.2026, the total strength of the Sri Lanka Police is 79,782 officers (inclusive of general, support and special service cadres).
(iii) Details of vacancies by rank are provided in Annexure 01 (tabled).
(iv) Yes.
(v) Promotions and recruitments will be effected within specified timeframes in accordance with the State Service Commission’s recruitment and promotion procedures, available allocations, and the National Police Commission’s guidelines and approved schemes.
To complete the vacancies referred to in (a)(iii), the following procedures are being implemented:
- Filling by promotions: For declared executive vacancies (Assistant Superintendent of Police and above), eligible officers will be promoted after verification of qualifications, effective from the later of the date they qualify or the date the vacancy arose. For non-executive ranks (Chief Inspector and below), as per NPC letter No. NPC/ED/NG/PR/07/Time Pro/2019-(4) dated 06.01.2020, vacancies as at 31 December each year are to be filled by calling applications and granting promotions before 30 June of the following year. Accordingly, processes are underway so that promotions take effect by 01 January of the following year.
- Filling by new recruitments: Approvals have been obtained to recruit to specified ranks in 2025 and 2026; interviews/examinations are being conducted and induction training arranged. Aggregate intake approvals and category-wise numbers have been tabled.
(b)
(i) The numbers of organized criminals arrested from 01.01.2024 to 31.12.2024, and from 01.01.2025 to 31.05.2025, categorized by offence types (including shootings, assaults with weapons, arson, drug trafficking and possession, etc.) are provided in Annexure 01 (tabled).
(ii) Yes. Circumstances and conditions under which police officers may be tempted into irregularities have been studied and identified.
(iii) Measures to prevent and curb irregularities include:
- Improving pay, allowances and welfare facilities.
- Establishing a nationwide programme to recognize, promote and reward officers who contribute with integrity to crime and anti-corruption work (promotions, increments, monetary awards and commendations).
- Continuous awareness programmes at station/divisional/provincial levels on the harmful consequences of corruption and irregularities.
- Training and capacity-building through the Police College, National Police Training Institute and in-service units to enhance professionalism and reduce susceptibility to misconduct.
- Weekly “Police Officers’ Grievance Day” at Police Headquarters every Thursday under the IGP, enabling officers to present issues directly.
- Multiple complaint channels against errant officers, including:
• Direct complaints to the IGP via a dedicated WhatsApp number;
• Direct contact with Provincial DIGs, Divisional SSPs and OICs (mobile numbers publicized);
• The National Operations Room of the Ministry via 118;
• The Police website (www.police.lk) e-service for direct complaints to the IGP;
• “Tell IGP” email: telligp@police.gov.lk;
• The 1997 hotline of the Police Special Task Force for confidential information.
- Establishment of Internal Affairs Units, in line with the National Anti-Corruption Policy, at Police Headquarters, CID and covering all provinces, with complaints accepted via phone, email, WhatsApp, complaint boxes and in person, and action taken accordingly.
- Intelligence monitoring of all serving officers through the Police Special Task Force and affiliated regional intelligence units, and acting on adverse intelligence.
- Dedicated Special Investigation Units under the direct supervision of the IGP, and nine Provincial Special Investigation Units under DIGs, to expedite inquiries against officers.
- Investigation and prosecution of criminal allegations against police officers by CID and provincial/regional investigation units under the general law.
- Expedited disciplinary action via the Police Discipline and Conduct Division; application of Police Orders, Establishments Code, IGP circulars, National Police Commission directives and procedural rules; imposition of penalties including interdiction and dismissal where warranted; and prosecution before courts for criminal offences.
From 01.01.2024 to 30.09.2025, 624 police officers have been interdicted and 79 officers have been dismissed from service.
(c) Does not arise.