The Ministry of Public Security stated that there have been no reports of incidents of threats to Police officers from drug dealers and organised criminals requiring special measures to be taken.
Inspector of Police Duminda Jayathilaka, who was the Officer-In-Charge of the Organised Crime Division at the Colombo Crimes Division, had recently left the country due to alleged death threats from organised crime gangs targeting him and his family.
The Daily Morning queried the Secretary to the Ministry, Viyani Gunathilaka as to whether there is an increase in threats to Police officers, particularly due to the ongoing operation ‘Yukthiya (Justice)’, which aims to eliminate drug trafficking and organised crimes in the country. In response, he said: “In fact, there has not been a significant increase in such threats to Police officers.” He also said that there is therefore no requirement to take any special measures.
Jayathilaka reportedly left for France with personal security guards on 14 February of this year from the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake. He later made several statements to the media and on social media platforms, claiming that he had left the country due to alleged threats from organised criminals targeting him and his family. The individuals whom he alleged had threatened him are organised crime suspects going by the aliases Kanjipani Imran and Heenatiyana Mahesh. Police Media Spokesperson, Deputy Inspector General of Police and attorney Nihal Thalduwa however said that there was reasonable suspicion about Jayathilaka’s allegations and conduct, and added that the Police suspected that he had done so seeking some benefit.
Thousands of drug dealers and organised criminals have been arrested during the islandwide ‘Yukthiya’ operation, which has been launched since December of last year (2023) on the instructions of the Public Security Minister Tiran Alles and Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon. The operation, which is being carried out with the participation of the Police, the Special Task Force and military personnel, has attracted both positive and negative responses.