Sri Lanka to Establish 14,000+ Public Safety Committees

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Minister of Public Security, Ananda Wijepala, has pledged sweeping reforms to depoliticize the police force and reestablish a just and law-abiding society. 

The Minister emphasized the urgent need to rebuild public trust and uphold the rule of law.

“Where the law is broken and justice is denied, the very foundation of society is at risk,” Minister Wijepala stated. “For too long, our society has been drifting toward criminality. We must take decisive action to reverse this trend.”

The Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to structural reforms within the police service, aiming to eliminate political interference and ensure impartial law enforcement. He stressed that the administration is acting in line with the public mandate it received, with a clear focus on justice and fairness.

As part of this initiative, the government has decided to establish Public Safety Committees across all 14,241 Grama Niladhari divisions by June 20. These committees are expected to empower communities, enhance local security, and serve as a grassroots mechanism to counter crime and corruption.

“We are taking full responsibility as a government to restore the broken standards of this society,” the Minister added. 

The Minister called on the public to unite as a powerful civic force against injustice and societal decay, urging citizens to actively participate in the transformation process.