Police boss in the dock
Friday 23rd October, 2026 The Sri Lanka police continue to draw criticism for ‘the vicarious exercise of the mandate of the government in power’ or acting as though they could exercise authority derived from the ruling party’s electoral victory. They often overstep their limits at the behest of the government of the day, and instances […]
Gampaha Magistrate Bandula Gunarathna has accused Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya of contempt of court for failing to comply with a court order. The Magistrate has called for contempt proceedings to be brought against the IGP, who is directed to forward relevant case files to the President of the Court of Appeal.
The order in question requires the IGP to issue a circular to all police officers, preventing unwarranted and baseless prosecutions. Lawyers representing the police submitted a set of guidelines on October 19, 2026, which only apply to three specific police divisions. The Magistrate criticized the police for submitting instructions limited to those divisions, whereas the court had specifically ordered the circular to cover the entire country.
The Magistrate expressed concern over the consequences of unwarranted arrests and baseless prosecutions, questioning the sustainability of a system that encourages the accumulation of cases instead of addressing the underlying causes of crime. He warned that such practices would damage public confidence in the police and the judiciary.
The Magistrate's actions are commendable for protecting the rights of the public and ensuring the police act responsibly. The allegations against the IGP come amid a Satyagraha demanding a presidential pardon for a monk serving a six-year prison sentence for contempt of court. The incident highlights the ongoing tension between successive governments and the police, with accusations of the police acting on behalf of the ruling party.
The controversy surrounding the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which raises mandatory retirement ages for superior court judges, further underscores the importance of maintaining judicial independence.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
