C D Wickramaratne will assume duties as the 35th Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Sri Lanka today.

This was after the five-member Parliamentary Council headed by the speaker approved President Gotabaya Rajapaksa s proposal to appoint C.D. Wickremeratne as the IGP. C.D. Wickremeratne functioned as Acting IGP after Pujitha Jayasundera was sent on compulsory leave.

The President had recommended to the Parliament that C.D. Wickramaratne, who had been the Acting Inspector General of Police for one year and seven months, be appointed as the Inspector General of Police.

C.D. Wickremeratne has served in the police force for 33 years from 1986. He has also served in the National Intelligence Service for 9 years.

He has been the Acting Inspector General of Police since April 26 last year.

History of the Police

In 1867, by an amendment to the Police Ordinance No. 16 of 1865, the designation of the Head of the Police Force was changed from Chief Superintendent to Inspector-General of Police.

On the 1st of June 1947 Sir Richard Aluvihare, was the first Sri Lankan to hold the office of Inspector General. The Police Department, which was under the Home Ministry, was brought under the purview of the Defense Ministry and Sir Richard was faced with the unenviable responsibility of transforming the Police Force from its colonial outlook to a National Police with the gaining of independence 1948.

Presently there are 43 Territorial Divisions 67 Functional Divisions 432 Police Stations with a cadre of more than 84,000

vision

Towards a Peaceful environment to live with confidence, without fear of Crime and Violence.

Mission

Sri Lanka Police is committed and confident to uphold and enforce the law of the land, to preserve the public order, prevent crime and Terrorism with prejudice to none  equity to all.

The list of former IGPs

01 Sir G.W.R. Campbell  1866 - 1872

02  F.R. Saunders  1872 - 1873

03  Sir G.W.R. Campbell  1873 - 1891

04 Major L.F. Knolis 1891 - 1902

05  Major A.W. De Witton  1902 - 1905

06  C.C. Longdon  1905 - 1910

07  Ivor Edward David  1910 - 1913

08  Sir H.L. Dowbiggin  1913 - 1937

09  P.N. Banks  1937 - 1942

10  Col. G.H.R. Haland  1942 - 1944

11  Lt. Col. R.R.M. Bacon 1944 - 1946

12 Sir Ricard Aluvihare  1946 - 1955

13  S.W. O De Silva  1955 - 1959

14  M.W.F. Abeykoon  26.04.1959 - 29.04.1963

15  S.A. Dissanayake  03.06.1963 - 03.06.1966

16  John Atygalla  04.06.1966 - 07.07.1967

17 E.L. Abeygoonawardene 08.07.1967 - 13.09.1970

18  D.S.E.P.R. Senanayake  14.09.1970 - 23.08.1978

19  G.A.D.E.A. Seneviratne  24.08.1978 - 14.03.1982

20  Rudra Rajasingham  20.04.1982 - 20.04.1985

21  H.W.H. Weerasinghe 21.04.1985 - 05.12.1985

22  L.D.C. Herath  06.12.1985 - 31.07.1988

23  E.E.B. Perera  01.08.1988 - 29.11.1993

24  T.P. Frank De Silva  29.11.1993 - 31.07.1995

25  >W.B. Rajaguru  31.07.1995 - 31.08.1998

26  B.L.V. De S. Kodituwakku  01.09.1998 - 27.08.2002

27  T.E. Anandarajah 28.08.2002 - 14.10.2003

28  T. Indra De Silva  19.12.2003 - 30.09.2004

29  Chandra Fernando  01.10.2004 - 11.10.2006

30  Y.P. Victor Perera  12.10.2006 - 31.06.2008

31  H.A.J.S.K. Wickramaratne  01.07.2008 - 02.11.2009

32  Dr. Mahinda Balasooriya  03.11.2009 - 17.06.2011

33  N.K. Illangakoo  16.07.2011 - 12.04.2016

34 Pujith Jayasundara 20.04.2016 - 15.03.2020

data sourced from the police website