Government orders investigation into SLPP secretary's remarks about the IGP

The government has called for a mandatory investigation into remarks made by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam about the Inspector General of Police, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing, Dr. Jayatissa said the comments — made by Kariyawasam, an attorney-at-law and former MP, at a media briefing on Monday — suggested the possibility of the country’s police chief being assassinated in public. He described the statement as an extremely serious matter that could not be dismissed as a casual comment.

”Not an off-the-cuff remark”

Dr. Jayatissa said the statement appeared to have been made deliberately in the setting of a formal media briefing rather than offered spontaneously, and that law enforcement authorities must examine not only the words themselves but the circumstances and implications surrounding them.

He noted that the current Inspector General of Police is actively leading operations against organised crime, underworld networks, drug trafficking and illicit financial activity, work that has produced a significant number of arrests and remand orders. A statement from the general secretary of a political party suggesting the country’s most senior police officer could be killed in public, in that context, warranted a thorough investigation, he said.

Priyantha Weerasooriya has held the post of Inspector General of Police through the current campaign against organised crime, which police have linked to rival drug trafficking networks.

Two inquiries under way

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala had already indicated that an inquiry would be conducted into the matter, Dr. Jayatissa said.

The Colombo Central Crimes Investigation Bureau has separately launched a special investigation, according to NewsFirst.

No verified newsroom other than NewsFirst had published an account of the Cabinet spokesman’s remarks at the time of writing, and Kariyawasam’s own response to the announcement has not been reported.