A damning audit report exposes a massive backlog in police misconduct investigations, revealing that over 4,900 public complaints remain unresolved as confidence in law enforcement plummets.
The National Police Commission is facing severe criticism after its latest audit report revealed a dramatic surge in public complaints against the Sri Lanka Police and an alarming backlog of unresolved cases. The comprehensive audit for the year ending December 31, 2024, documented a troubling trend: complaints against police officers have escalated from 1,893 in 2021 to 2,863 in 2024, indicating a growing crisis in public trust and police accountability.
The audit findings present a stark picture of systemic failure, with a staggering 82% of complaints received between 2016 and 2024 remaining unresolved. This translates to 4,902 out of 5,935 public grievances that have not been properly investigated, including every single complaint filed directly at the Commission’s Head Office. The 2024 data shows that 29% of complaints concerned police inaction while 23% involved misuse of power, highlighting significant issues in police conduct and service delivery.
According to the Commission’s Chief Accounting Officer, multiple factors contributed to these investigative delays, including unclear information from complainants, slow police report submissions, a vacant Deputy Director position in the Investigation Division, and the overwhelming volume of complaints received in 2024. The audit strongly criticized the Commission for failing to implement adequate measures to improve police efficiency and independence as constitutionally mandated. The report concluded with urgent recommendations to streamline the investigation process for public complaints, emphasizing that only efficient resolution can ensure proper accountability and restore rapidly eroding public confidence in Sri Lanka’s police service.
