Police Day celebrated in Colombo

BY SARATH Malalasekera

THE Police Department celebrated the 139th Police Day at a simple ceremony at the Bambalapitiya Police Grounds on Saturday. Acting Inspector General of Police Bodhi Liyanage was the chief guest.

The Acting IGP inspected the parade accompanied by Field Force Headquarters DIG S.K. Shankar and Colombo DIG Pujit Jayasundera.

Earlier, Acting IGP Bodhi Liyanage was received at the entrance to the Police Grounds by DIG S.K. Shankar, Field Force Head Quarters Commandant Senior SP M.J. Savangam, Deputy Commandant Senior SP Keerthi de Silva and Field Force Headquarters OIC Dhammika Dayananda. Later the Acting IGP took the salute while the Police band played music befitting the occasion.

Sri Lanka Police had to face the second world war in 1939 and several incident in 1971 and the late 1980s.

"We hope that we will never go back to that dark era. As we are now marching towards peace, we will achieve peace," Acting IGP Bodhi Liyanage said.

The Acting IGP paid a glowing tribute to those gallant senior and junior members of the Sri Lanka Police Force who have made the supreme sacrifice to maintain law and order and bring peace to the Motherland.

"I extend to all ranks of the Police the warmest greetings and on behalf of the Police Force to the people of this country a peaceful and harmonious future, " Acting IGP Bodhi Liyanage said.

The colourful parade was made up of officers of 24 platoons including the Special Task Force, Women cadres, Permanent Police Force and SLRPs. Senior DIGs Sirisena Herath, Jayantha Wickremaratne, Kumarasiri Gamage, M. Balasuriya, DIGs, Senior SPs, SPs and several other Police officers belonging to all ranks were present.

The proceedings were conducted by Colombo DIG Pujit Jayasundera.

Senior SP Keerthi de Silva and Chief Inspector Dhammika Dayananda, OIC, Field Force Headquarters assisted in organising the ceremony.