In the aftermath of the assassination of an organised crime suspect Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne alias ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’ in the witness box of number five Magistrate’s Court in the Aluthkade Courts Complex last week, details of the crime, narrated by Police authorities are beginning to paint a picture of what allegedly transpired.

Coincidentally, the crime that shocked the nation, is beginning to lay bare the status quo of the law enforcement apparatus of Sri Lanka, which has long-standing issues related to integrity, efficiency, corruption and a culture of impunity. The acting Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya acknowledged that the Police Department did have intelligence of a threat on the suspect’s life, just a week before the murder. If there was any credible intelligence to suggest that the deceased’s life was in danger, should not adequate precautions been taken?

The acting IGP’s statement and the other information which is being revealed are beginning to sound like Deja Vu of the post 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. It begs the question – Have we learnt no lessons from that national security debacle? Indications are that Sri Lanka hasn’t. 

Meanwhile, the number of Police officers linked to this particular murder who are being arrested as suspects, keeps growing, adding to concerns about police-crime collusion, which has been a long-standing problem with the Sri Lankan law enforcement community. It seems the public security and law and order apparatus of the country has been well penetrated by organised criminal groups, political influence and likely even foreign actors, leaving the public vulnerable. The entire system seems to be in shambles. Further, with more and more armed forces personnel, both in active duty, retired or deserters continuing to be employed as ‘guns for hire’, the need for a thorough review of the entire national security establishment becomes more evident.

Weerasuriya, who spilled the beans in response to a question during a press conference, said: “We had received information, but not about a shooting in Colombo. The week prior to this in Gampaha court, where Ganemulla Sanjeewa was to be produced. The moment I received the information I spoke to the Gampaha Division in charge officer to inform the Magistrate, cancel the court proceedings, and allow evidence to be given virtually. As he didn’t appear before the Court that day, there was no issue.” 

However, despite the intervention of the acting IGP on the Gampaha Court appearance of the victim, why was Sanjeewa brought to Aluthkade Courts a week later while there was intelligence of an active threat on his life? Why didn’t the Police move to equip the suspect in custody with body armour as a precautionary measure? Why was security at the Magistrate’s Court not increased on the day? Did the Police and Prison Department officers effectively explore the option, which was used with Sanjeewa many times before, of allowing him to appear before courts via online video conferencing? Why was Sanjeewa exposed so much when there was intelligence to suggest a credible threat on his life? Who did the Police think they were dealing with? Amateurs? 

If the intelligence was credible enough for intervention by the IGP to change the Gampaha Court appearance, why was the next court appearance in Colombo taken lightly? Questions have also been raised about why the dozens of well-trained ‘STF Commandos” on-site within the Court premises failed to administer first aid to the victim and failed to stop the fleeing assassin at the crime scene.

Given the nature of what has transpired, and with the Government continuing to keep its head buried in the sand, with its almost childishly adamant stand that national security has not been impacted, what can the average citizen expect in terms of law and order, and national security?  

This Government came to power on a platform which said they would be more accountable and transparent. Who will the Government hold accountable for this debacle? Or is the fact that they have been in office ‘only for a few months’ reason enough to give themselves a ‘get out of jail free’ pass?