The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has directed that police officers must refrain from presenting gift hampers to senior officers on festive or special occasions, and that senior officers must not accept such gifts.
This directive has been issued in a letter signed by Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya, following revelations that some officers have been offering gift hampers to senior police officials as a gesture of goodwill during occasions such as the New Year and the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, with certain senior officers accepting them.
Accordingly, the letter states that with immediate effect, no police officer should offer gift hampers to the Inspector General of Police or to any other senior officer on such occasions or at any other time. It further instructs that senior officers must not accept such offerings under any circumstances.
The Inspector General of Police has also noted that if any officer wishes to extend greetings to the Inspector General or other senior officers on special occasions, there is no need for a personal meeting. Such greetings may instead be conveyed through alternative means such as a telephone call or a brief message via WhatsApp.
Weerasuriya who was the Acting IGP during festive season last year, issued similar directives to the Police.
