A senior police officer attached to the Mount Lavinia Division is under investigation over allegations of running an extortion racket through subordinate officers, police sources have confirmed.
The officer, who is based in Piliyandala and due to retire shortly, is accused of collecting extortion money from massage centres in Mount Lavinia and surrounding areas while allegedly extending protection to illicit operations. Officers within the division brought the matter to the attention of senior officials at Police Headquarters.
A Sub-Inspector attached to the Mount Lavinia Police is also implicated, accused of tipping off individuals ahead of raids — including making phone calls to the son of a suspected drug trafficker, sources said.
An investigation has been launched on the instructions of the Inspector General of Police. However, no disciplinary action or transfers have been carried out so far, reportedly due to the influence of the senior officer involved.
The probe adds to a series of accountability actions under the current IGP, who recently banned police officers from accepting gifts during the New Year season and has overseen cross-jurisdictional STF raids targeting organised crime networks in the Colombo metropolitan area.
