Law & Order

## Summary The Minister of Justice and National Integration reported that 793 death-row prisoners have exhausted all legal appeals and have not received Presidential Pardon under Article 34 of the Constitution, while declining to release a list of these individuals on privacy grounds. The Minister acknowledged that previous presidents have granted pardons, both on the basis of committee recommendations and on an individual basis. To establish a more objective process, the Minister announced the Cabinet-approved formation of a committee — chaired by a Supreme Court Judge and comprising representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Attorney-General's Department, and the Sri Lanka Police — whose recommendations will be submitted to Cabinet to formulate a formal pardon procedure.

Speaking in the context of a debate on village defence raised by Hon. Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Kariapper acknowledged the significant security role played by volunteer village guards in rural areas such as Kalmunai, Ampara, particularly during periods of conflict along the Mahaweli Oya. He noted that the majority of these guards are paddy farmers who served to protect their own communities while maintaining their agricultural livelihoods, and were equipped with shotguns rather than military-grade weapons. He argued against redeploying them to urban sentry duties in Colombo, which he characterised as unsuitable, and proposed instead that they be integrated into productive rural programmes such as agricultural support or human-elephant conflict mitigation. He also noted for the record that the parliamentary session was being held on Medin Full Moon Poya Day.

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 Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri submitted Parliamentary Question No. 1174/2025 to the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, seeking detailed information on the operational status and integrity of the Sri Lanka Police. The question requests quantitative data on police infrastructure, including the number of police stations, total serving officers, and rank-wise vacancies, along with a commitment on whether and when those vacancies will be filled. Additionally, the member seeks figures on organized criminal arrests for the period 2024 to May 2025, and asks whether internal irregularities within the Police have been identified and what corrective measures have been implemented.

The Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs clarified that penalties in question are levied against the company concerned, not against the Minister personally. He emphasised that there is no court judgment against the Minister.

## Summary Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala issued a direct challenge to opposing members, requesting they provide a specific case number to substantiate a claim that a particular individual had been found guilty. The statement implies the Deputy Minister was disputing or questioning the factual basis of an allegation being made by another member during the debate. No legislative proposals or policy matters were raised in this brief intervention.

Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala provided a brief reassurance regarding a matter described as minor ("about two point something"), stating that measures are being taken to address it and that the procurement process has not been compromised. The speech was very brief and lacked specific detail or context.

The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Sajith Premadasa, used his brief speaking time to call on Hon. Ananda Wijepala to immediately contact the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to demand that anyone connected to the crimes under discussion be investigated and arrested, with the rule of law upheld. He pledged the Opposition's full support for such action.

Leader of the Opposition Hon. Sajith Premadasa firmly denied allegations that his party promotes or harbours criminal elements, rejecting any association with the underworld, killings, robbery, or corruption. He called on the Minister to immediately direct the Inspector General of Police to investigate and arrest individuals engaged in underworld activities, pledging the Opposition's full support for such law enforcement action.