A new police circular banning the release of arrest photos has triggered accusations of double standards, with critics claiming the IGP is protecting political allies instead of upholding justice.
The Inspector General of Police has issued a sudden circular instructing all police stations not to release photos or details of suspects arrested, including images of seized items. The timing of this decision has caused public uproar as it came immediately after the husband of a National People’s Power MP was arrested with drugs in Anuradhapura. Many now question why such a directive was not issued earlier, especially during the numerous public drug awareness events where suspects were paraded before the media. Critics argue that the IGP was silent when the government used such arrests for political mileage, but rushed to introduce a media blackout the moment the scandal involved an individual connected to the NPP.
The chairman of the Police Branch Association known as the Polipathi has reportedly taken swift action to defend the IGP, but opposition voices claim the move exposes selective policing. They allege the circular was not motivated by ethics or legal principles, but by the need to shield political allies from embarrassment. The IGP is now being mocked for suddenly discovering “privacy rights” only when it serves the interests of those in power. Commentators say this single circular has turned the police chief into a public joke, proving that his decisions are guided not by law, but by political pressure.
The criticism goes further, suggesting that more such protective circulars may follow if more high-profile arrests affect the ruling circles. Observers now say there is a direct link between the IGP’s circulars and the survival strategy of the political compass he follows. Instead of enforcing equal justice, the IGP is seen as moving in sync with the political actors he is expected to police. The controversy has reinforced the belief that accountability in Sri Lanka continues to bend in favor of the influential, while ordinary citizens are left to face the full force of the law without privilege or protection.
