The senior police officer-in-charge of the Western Province stated that the Police department is preparing a plan of action to eradicate “organised crime” within six months! The senior cop, who himself faces allegations of corruption and abuse of power, may have taken a page from the Politicians Handbook on Fake Promises to cook up the next series of headlines which will help to white wash the tarnished image of the law enforcement community in the coming days. Or was he hinting that he will be “able and ready” in six months, to fill the vacancy of the top cop seat, which was recently ‘topped up’ for six months by the President? Time will tell.

Over the years, Sri Lankans have become accustomed to “time critical promises” which claim to deliver wonders, but utterly fail to do so. We’ve all heard the 100 day plans or 6 month turnarounds, or the ‘Year of Prosperity’ promises. But here were are still, struggling to get by. The statement made by the senior policemen is no different from that made by countless politicians over the years. The fact that a senior police officer is stating that they plan to eradicate organised crime in six months, is telling of how weak and unprofessional our law enforcement apparatus has become. Let’s not fool ourselves, the statement is a smokescreen, and poorly drafted distraction to shift the public’s focus on the current crime-wave and the lacklustre efforts the Police have taken to curb it.

This year alone, as of 31 August there were 70 shootings, with 41 killed and 30 injured. What was the Police department doing for the first 10 months of the year while 41 people were killed? Why a special six-months programme now? What has changed to warrant this sudden “awakening” in police tactics? Was it the need to pander to the political leadership and “score points” to further one's own career goals? Or is it to pacify the politicians, by soothing the public's concerns about the crime wave with a new round of “We’ll get tough on gun crime and organised crime” narratives before a possible election season?

The public perception of the Police Department is clear, the Police have a long charge sheet, pardon the pun, to answer to. At the turn of the century, a survey carried out by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) indicated that many Sri Lankans viewed the 150 plus year old institution as the “most corrupt” state institution. A more recent survey in 2017 indicated that public sentiments about the Police had not changed a decade and half later. Post “Aragalaya”, the views of the Police remain unchanged, if at all more reinforced. It is evident that law and order reforms must go side-by-side of Sri Lanka’s judicial reforms process, both which have been a need, long felt.

The Police should first, launch an independent inquiry into abuse of power, collusion with crime groups, and penetration of the Police by criminal gangs. There is ample evidence to support the theory that lawlessness witnessed, particularly in the South of the island, is linked to a Crime-Law enforcement nexus. The number of policemen, including some senior officers who have been implicated, alleged and arrested for links to organised crime. In a number of democratic countries where police corruption, and collusion with criminal groups were found rampant, independent external inquiries, sometimes with help of community watch dogs, and under the oversight of special prosecutors, have been conducted to “clean up” the police departments. Perhaps it’s time for Sri Lanka to conduct it on its own? But, let it not be a mechanism which is just “another committee” of “yes men” or “retired cops” who rise from the same system.  We all know heads should roll, and some units may require to be completely disbanded, and what is needed is a thorough shake up and restricting the law enforcement mechanism of Sri Lanka, with independent – civilian oversight by credible, accountable persons.