Colombo – In the 158-year history of the Sri Lanka Police, no one has ever risen from the humble rank of police constable to become the nation’s top law enforcement officer. That changed this year with the appointment of Priyantha Weerasooriya as Inspector General of Police (IGP), a man whose life story is as much about personal grit as it is about the power of education.
Weerasooriya’s journey began far from the corridors of Colombo or the polished floors of police headquarters. He attended the small Naahinna Junior College in Kalutara Dote, a place he still speaks of with pride, often calling himself a “Naahinniyan.” His entry into the police service was at the very bottom – as a constable, known in the service by the old term “ralahami.” For most, that would have been a lifetime posting. But for him, it was the first step in a climb that would make history.
While serving, he sat for his Advanced Level examinations, qualifying for the University of Colombo’s Faculty of Law. His days were split between the discipline of police work and the rigor of legal study. After earning his LL.B., he was sworn in as an attorney at law at Sri Lanka Law College and promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Police. He did not stop there, adding a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management to his academic credentials.
Over his thirty six years in the police service, Weerasooriya’s record was marked by commendations from ten successive IGPs – an extraordinary testament to consistent performance and integrity. His career included postings as Deputy Inspector General of Police for Crime and Traffic, Director of Police Logistics, and service in United Nations peacekeeping missions in East Timor and Haiti. Before his appointment as Acting IGP, he served as Senior DIG in charge of the North Central Province.
Those who knew him at university remember a man with discipline etched into his character. Lawyer Aravinda Habakkala, a classmate at the Faculty of Law, recalls the surprise of finding a serving sub-inspector in their lecture halls in 1992. “We all called him ‘Police,’” Habakkala says. “But he was a policeman without the police character.”
In a heartfelt public note, Habakkala used Weerasooriya’s story to speak to parents, teachers, and students across the country. “It does not matter where you start your life. But you decide where you end it,” he wrote. “Education is wings. If you have wings, it is very easy to climb any high wall. Teach your children despite any obstacles. Children, do not give up on learning despite any hardships.”
Habakkala also urged schools to invite the new IGP to speak, believing his journey could inspire thousands. He recalled how even at the height of his career, Weerasooriya cared for his elderly mother himself, carrying her in his arms and tending to her needs – an act he feels should be a lesson to the nation’s youth about duty and humility.
If Weerasooriya had been content to remain in his first post and not pursued education, his career would have taken an entirely different path. Instead, his unwavering commitment to learning transformed him from the lowest rank in the police to the very top.
His appointment comes at a time when the police service faces significant public criticism. Many hope that his leadership – grounded in discipline, education and personal sacrifice – can restore trust and set a higher standard for the force.
From the classrooms of a rural school in Kalutara to the highest office in Sri Lanka’s police service, Priyantha Weerasooriya’s life is a reminder that while circumstances may shape your beginnings, determination and education can define your destination.
