March 27, Colombo (LNW): Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya has reaffirmed his commitment to standing by police officers who dedicate themselves to tackling organised crime in Sri Lanka.
Speaking at an awards ceremony in Colombo, Weerasooriya underscored the government’s determination to recognise and protect law enforcement personnel engaged in crime-fighting efforts.
He emphasised that officers who take risks to uphold public safety must be duly rewarded and assured of institutional backing.
“We are committed to ensuring that those who dedicate themselves to combating organised crime receive the recognition and protection they deserve,” Weerasooriya stated.
The event saw the distribution of cash prizes amounting to over 24 million rupees and commendations for 140 officers who had made significant contributions to resolving criminal cases.
The Acting IGP highlighted that these awards are part of an ongoing initiative to encourage and appreciate the hard work of police officers.
“We intend to continue motivating our officers by organising events that honour their achievements. These cash prizes are awarded following a thorough selection process,” he added, recalling that the President had earlier introduced measures to incentivise law enforcement officers.
He further noted that major raids conducted in recent months had already been rewarded, with future arrests and operations also set to receive recognition.
Addressing resource constraints within the police force, Weerasooriya acknowledged existing human resource shortages and stressed that the government had taken steps to mitigate these challenges.
He assured that officers on the frontline of crime prevention would receive both protection and rewards for their service.
“As the head of the police force, I will always stand by officers committed to this cause. Our needs have been communicated to the government regularly, and we have received positive responses from the President and the Minister,” he said.
The ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials, including the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Ravi Seneviratne, and other dignitaries.
