• Fmr. IGP Chandra Fernando & other retirees warn of hydra of past political violence  

Several retired senior Police officers, including former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandra Fernando, expressed concerns about the potential for future political violence in Sri Lanka, noting the persistent nature of political groups that have resorted to violence in the past and the likelihood that these groups are unlikely to abandon such tactics.

A press conference was held yesterday (13), following several retired Police officers including the Criminal Investigations Department's (CID) former Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Ravi Seneviratne and the former CID Director, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shani Abeysekara participating in a conference organised by the Retired Police Officers' Collective affiliated to the National People's Power (NPP) of the Parliamentary Opposition, last week. 

Addressing the media, Fernando said that they cannot believe that the political groups that behaved violently in the past would not behave in the same manner in the future. He mentioned certain historical instances of political violence, noting that despite attempts at rehabilitation, violent uprisings continued to occur. 

“In 1971, the Government rehabilitated the youths involved in the anti-Government insurrection. We thought that they would give up violence and such insurrections would never take place. But, what happened in 1989? They rose up in a more violent manner,” he observed. 

Fernando also highlighted the events of 9 May 2022, when 91 houses were burned in a single night, indicating a continued pattern of violence. He criticised the decision of certain senior retired Police officers to align with political groups, questioning whether they could make such a choice without considering the country's future and the safety of its citizens. 

“It is unbelievable that such senior Policemen who worked with us to uphold law and order could make such a decision without considering the future of this country and the safety of its people,” he opined.

Meanwhile, retired SP Norton de Silva called the involvement of the said senior Police officers in political organisations a disgrace to them. “Such reputed senior retired Police officers forming a political organisation and joining a particular party is a shame for all senior retired Police officers,” de Silva claimed.

The said press conference was attended by Fernando, several retired SDIGs, retired SSPs, retired SPs, and other senior retired officers.