At a time when the Police force has remained a major topic of discussion for months in a row, although often in controversial contexts, the country is to get a new Inspector General of Police (IGP) or a service extension for incumbent IGP Chandana D. Wickramaratne. Even though uncorroborated sources have claimed that several famous senior Police officers, including Senior Deputy Inspector Generals of Police (SDIG) Deshabandu Tennakoon and SDIG and Attorney Ajith Rohana, are in line for the position, there is no clarity as to who would be in the IGP position once IGP Wickramaratne’s tenure expires.

A new appointment, or IGP Wickramaratne’s service extension, would come in a context where various forms of incidents and allegations have tarnished the Police’s name as a protector and a servant of the public. Whoever fills this position will have to deal with a plethora of issues pertaining to the Police’s conduct, the Police-public relationship, and most importantly, rebuilding the respect that the Police has lost. Therefore, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has a responsibility and the Constitutional Council has a duty to ensure that that person possesses the skills, capability, integrity and experience that the above mentioned tasks require.

One of the leading factors that have weakened the Police-public relationship is the Police’s conduct during the “aragalaya” (the people’s struggle to overthrow the Government led by then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa) period where the Police used excessive force with no regard for the safety of civilians. While this behaviour violated many protestors’ fundamental rights pertaining to expression and assembly, the country also recorded one death that occurred during protests and many injuries. With the backing of former and present Governments and the blessing of various influential figures, the disproportionate and unlawful use of power by the Police still continues, changing the Police’s role as a protector and a servant to that of an oppressor.

However, the incidents and allegations surrounding the aragalaya movement are merely the most recent examples that could be attributed to the weakened Police-public relationship and the tarnished reputation. The truth is that incidents of custodial deaths and torture, bribes, and the misuse of powers to fulfill personal and political objectives have long been deteriorating those and it would not be an exaggeration to state that ordinary citizens have begun to view the Police force as one of the Government’s loyal lackeys, especially after the aragalaya protests. The allegations levelled by Inter-University Students’ Federation Convenor Wasantha Mudalige as to how he was detained, questioned and threatened following his recent arrest, the fact that underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickremeratne alias “Harak Kata”s’ family filed a writ petition before the Court of Appeal seeking his safety during his detention, and also Justice Minister, President’s Counsel Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s claims that the Police are involved in filing false drug related cases to frame individuals and that seized drugs enter the general society through the Police, are merely a handful of examples that show the magnitude and gravity of the issue.

It is not just the public that is facing difficulties in this context. During the past few months, various reports pointed out how Police officers work under extremely stressful conditions, with inadequate resources and rest. One of the main issues that need to be addressed under the new IGP, or the present IGP if he received a service extension, is to improve the working conditions and professional capacities of Police officers. 

Needless to say, unless and until the Police start seeing the loss of its reputation as an issue that requires urgent action, stop playing God when dealing with civilians and start respecting their human rights, and take a stance against the unlawful orders it receives from high-ranking authorities, this situation will not only remain, but will most likely exacerbate. The IGP, as the top-most officer of the Police force, is at the centre of many of these issues. He has been demanded by many parties to respond to and rectify the aforementioned issues, but to no avail in many cases. These concerns and issues, which are yet to be addressed, are on the new IGP’s shoulders. At the same time, the Government should understand that its responsibility is not just to appoint someone to the IGP position, but also to create an environment where the IGP could perform his/her duties independently and lawfully.