Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa launched a strong attack against the government in Parliament today, accusing it of attempting to erode the independence of the National Police Commission in order to use the Police Department as a political tool for repression and to advance its own political agenda.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s scheduled parliamentary debate on the Police Commission, Rajapaksa reminded the government that when it was in opposition during the Yahapalanaya administration, it had been among the loudest voices calling for an independent Police Commission.
“You were the ones who said a Police Commission is necessary to ensure independence,” Rajapaksa told the government. “But today, you are trying to remove that independence and transfer power to the Police Commissioner.”
Questioning the government’s motives, he asked whether these changes were truly intended to serve the public and enforce the law or to pursue political objectives. He said that if genuine police reforms were being carried out in good faith, the Police Commission would not be seen as an obstacle.
He further criticised the practice of appointing senior police officers, including the Police Commissioner, from “political platforms,” claiming such appointments undermine professional integrity and make officers beholden to political agendas.
Issuing a stern warning to the current IGP, Rajapaksa said, “Study your history. Look at what happened to previous IGPs who acted as political tools.”
Rajapaksa accused the government of reviving repressive tactics reminiscent of the 1980s and 1990s. “The government is clearly trying to use the police for repression and to fulfil its political agenda,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Rajapaksa urged the government to end the politicisation of the police and preserve the dignity of the Police Department. He also warned against misusing the country’s security and intelligence apparatus for political purposes.
“Do not use the armed forces, the police, or the intelligence divisions for this hunt,” he cautioned. “If the intelligence divisions collapse, national security will collapse — and when that happens, it won’t matter who is in power. The entire country will suffer.”
