MP Namal Rajapaksa has blasted the growing trend of police officers being transferred whenever they arrest someone linked to the government or seize drugs, warning that the law is being bent to protect political allies at the cost of justice.
Speaking on the recent arrest of Sevwandi, who had been evading capture for over a year, MP Namal Rajapaksa claimed that along with her, another dummy suspect had been presented. He said this pattern reflects a broader and more dangerous issue, where the moment an arrested individual is connected to the ruling party, public pressure is deflected by quietly transferring the officers responsible for the arrest.
Rajapaksa accused authorities of undermining their own law enforcement by punishing hardworking police officials. He highlighted that in drug seizures, too, the officers who provide vital intelligence often face the same fate—swift transfers instead of recognition. These actions, he argued, demoralize the police force and weaken the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking in Sri Lanka.
He specifically criticized the use of the police outside legal channels, drawing parallels with the controversial arrest of the Navy Commander. According to him, such politically motivated interventions erode institutional credibility, damage public trust, and ultimately leave the police service itself vulnerable.
Rajapaksa stressed that the issue is not about protecting the JVP government or the opposition but about preserving the independence of the police. When officers who dedicate themselves to tackling drugs or apprehending fugitives are punished with transfers, the ultimate loser is not the political class but the rule of law.
His remarks add weight to ongoing concerns about political interference in policing, which many fear is undermining both the morale of officers and the effectiveness of anti-drug operations across the country. In Rajapaksa’s view, if this culture continues, Sri Lanka risks losing one of its key weapons against crime—an independent police service willing to act without fear or favour.
