page_title: Sri Lanka Police
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Sri Lanka Police / History
caption_attribution_description: සිංහල: ක්‍රි.ව. 1866 සිට ක්‍රි.ව. 1972 දක්වා පැවති ලංකා පොලිස් බලකායේ නිල ලාංඡනය
context_page_description: The Sri Lanka Police is the civilian national police force of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The police force has a manpower of approximately 77,000, and is responsible for enforcing criminal- and traffic law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout Sri Lanka. The professional head of the police is the Inspector General of Police who reports to the Minister of Law and Order as well as the National Police Commission. The current Inspector General of Police is Pujith Jayasundara.
  During the Sri Lankan civil war, the police service became an integral part of maintaining of the nation's security, primarily focusing on internal security. Many police officers have been killed in the line of duty mainly due to terrorist attacks. At the same time, the police were accused of being corrupt or being too heavy handed.
  Specially trained commando/counter-terrorist units named Special Task Force are regularly deployed in joint operations with the armed forces for counter-terrorism operations and VVIP protection.
context_section_description: 1797: The office of Fiscal was created. Fredric Barron Mylius was appointed as Fiscal of Colombo and entrusted with responsibility of policing the City of Colombo.
  1806: The regulation No. 6 of 1806 appointed a Vidane Arachchi to each village, for prevention and detection of crime in rural areas.
  1832:  A committee appointed by the governor was instructed to form a police force. It was decided by this committee that the new police force was to be funded by a tax to be paid by the public. It consisted of one Superintendent, one Chief Constable, five Constables, ten Sergeants and 150 Peons. They were responsible for maintaining law and order in the capital city of Colombo.
  1844:  As the police force was restricted to coastal areas only, a second police force was created to cater to the hill country.
  1858:  The police force in the coastal area and the police force in the hill country were unified.
  1864:  The first death of a police officer whilst on duty occurred when he attempted to apprehend a brigand by the name of  "Saradiel", who was subsequently compared to Robin Hood.
  1865:  The Police Ordinance was enacted to stipulate the powers and responsibilities of policemen.
  1866:  William Robert Campbell, then the chief of police in the Indian province of Rathnageri, was appointed as Chief Superintendent of Police in Ceylon on 3 September 1866. This date is considered as the beginning of the Sri Lanka Police Service.
  1867:  The Chief of Police was designated as the Inspector General of Police. William Robert Campbell became the first Inspector General of Police. The Police Headquarters was founded at Maradana, in the City of Colombo.
  1870:  Muslim rioters attacked the Police Headquarters. The police were successful in repulsing the attack, but the building was damaged. This year, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) was formed.
  1879:  The strength of the police force had tripled from 585 when IGP Campbell was appointed, to a force of 1528. The first police firing range, training college and the publishing of the annual administration report emerged during this year.
  1892:  The Depot Police presently known as the Field Force Headquarters was formed. Uniforms and housing were made free for police officers. The payment of a Good Conduct Allowance was initiated.
  1908:  Fingerprinting and photographing of criminals were initiated, along with the direct recruitment to the rank of Assistant Superintendents of Police.
  1913:   Herbert Layard Dowbiggin was appointed as the 8th Inspector General of Police. 119 police stations were in operation with a total strength of 2306.
  1915:  For the first time two officers were appointed as Deputy Inspectors General of Police.
  1916:  0.22-caliber rifles were issued in place of shotguns.
  1920:  For the first time, police officers were deployed for the purpose of controlling traffic.
  1923:  A book containing comprehensive details regarding all aspects of the police, the  Departmental Order Book,  was formulated.
  1926:  The Sport Division was established.
  1930:  A handbook of traffic rules and regulations was issued for traffic duties.
  1932:  The Police Headquarters was moved from Maradana to its present location in Colombo Fort.
  1938:  Police telephone boxes were deployed throughout the city of Colombo.
  1942:  Temporary forces were employed, known as Temporary Police Constables.
  1945: - Police units were deployed at all hospitals. Additional units were also deployed for railway security. However, in the following year, the railway police force was discontinued as a necessity for it did not arise.
  1952:  Women were enrolled to the police force for the first time. VHF radios were introduced for communication. It was decided that in honour of police officers killed in the line of duty, state funerals with full police honours would be held. In addition the police flag would be flown at half mast throughout the country.
  1954:  Police stations were graded into five classifications, Grades "E" to "A". The grading of police stations was considered depending on the workload, population, locality, cri
caption: Seal of the Ceylon Police Force
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