Acting IGP orders swift action on police complaints

• All investigations into complaints received are commenced on the same day and are completed within 48 hours
• Sets a deadline of two weeks to resolve all uninvestigated and unresolved complaints to date

Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya has directed all police stations across the country to ensure that investigations into complaints received are commenced on the same day and are completed within 48 hours. He has also issued an urgent order to resolve all uninvestigated and unresolved complaints to date within two weeks.

The directive aims to improve the efficiency of police investigations and ensure swift justice for the public. The Acting IGP’s orders come amid concerns over delayed investigations and unresolved cases at police stations nationwide.

Last week, the Police Media Division reported that a special meeting was held on 3 October at the Police Headquarters, chaired by the new Public Security Ministry Secretary Senior DIG (Rtd) Ravi Seneviratne. 

The meeting had reviewed the progress of ongoing investigations, particularly those involving high-profile crimes, fraud, and other special criminal cases. Senior police officials, including representatives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), participated in the meeting alongside Weerasooriya.

During the meeting, special attention was given to ongoing investigations that have been delayed or temporarily halted. There were discussions about whether political factors had influenced the stalling of certain investigations, with participants identifying cases that required immediate attention.

The meeting also focused on unnecessarily delayed investigations, exploring the reasons behind the delays, and determining whether any new investigations need to be initiated.

According to the Police Media Division, several significant investigations were highlighted during the meeting, and a comprehensive report will be prepared to guide the continuation of these cases. The police emphasised that further investigations would be carried out based on the findings discussed at the meeting.