Police have arrested 208 police officers for offences including drug-related crimes and suspended nearly 1,500 others, Police Media Spokesperson ASP F. U. Wootler said.
He was speaking on Ada Derana’s Big Focus programme. He acknowledged that corrupt and unsuitable officers exist within the department, and said measures are being taken to identify and remove them, with strict legal action.
Wootler also said 11,131 children, including 233 girls, have been arrested since 30 October 2025. He made the remark while discussing the spread of narcotics among school-age children.
According to the spokesperson, police are monitoring suspected drug distribution in and around schools and private tuition classes. The drug of most concern is crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice”.
Wootler said authorities are investigating reports that narcotics are being passed on through items such as ice cream, cotton candy and “Sarawita”. Intelligence officers have been deployed to monitor the situation, he said.
He urged parents to watch for changes in their children’s eating habits, behaviour, conversations and social circles, which he said could signal involvement with drugs.
Background
Crystal methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant that has become one of the more widely seized drugs in Sri Lanka in recent years, alongside heroin and cannabis. Police, the armed forces and Sri Lanka Customs regularly announce seizures, and the Police Narcotics Bureau handles many of the investigations.
A police officer accused of a crime can be arrested and produced before a magistrate like any other suspect. The Police Department can also suspend an officer from duty while internal and criminal inquiries continue. A suspension is not a finding of guilt.
What it means
For parents, the spokesperson’s remarks point to a practical step: paying closer attention to what children eat, who they spend time with and how their behaviour changes, particularly around school and tuition hours.
For the public, the figures on arrests and suspensions indicate the scale of the action police say is under way against officers accused of misconduct.
