Sri Lanka launches probe into SLPP official's comments on police chief

Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala announced an immediate investigation into remarks made by SLPP General Secretary Attorney‑at‑Law Sagara Kariyawasam about Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya. Kariyawasam urged the IGP to serve the state rather than the government and warned he did not want the 37th IGP to be “beaten to death by people on the street.” Wijepala described the comments as irresponsible and said they reflected a political mindset that has previously sacrificed the public for power.

Separately, SLPP National Organiser and MP Namal Rajapaksa publicly warned the same police chief to remain independent, recalling that former IGPs who aligned with politicians faced severe consequences. Rajapaksa’s statement, echoing broader concerns about police neutrality, adds pressure on the current administration as it navigates scrutiny over law‑enforcement independence. The IGP has not yet responded to either set of remarks.