Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake admitted a “black state” existed on the island, revealing links between the criminal underworld and Sri Lanka’s security forces in an address last week.
Speaking at the launch of the government’s new anti-narcotics drive, titled “United as a Nation – National Drive” (“රටම එකට – ජාතික මෙහෙයුම”), Dissanayake presented a series of allegations and findings he said underpinned the crackdown.
Among them, he said, were reports that T-56 assault rifles from military camps had ended up in criminal hands, with 73 rifles reported missing and 35 already recovered. He said a senior army colonel had been arrested on charges of supplying ammunition and that payments had been traced to the officer’s bank accounts.
He also claimed a police officer had sold his service weapon and fled the country, and that investigations had uncovered links between officers and organised crime.
Dissanayake also acknowledged public belief that cleansing the police could break the drug trade, and told the assembled audience that that view had merit. “This is true,” he said. He added that villagers often feared reporting crimes because informants were exposed to reprisals. “Measures are being taken by the authorities to end this. This is the era where the highest suspensions have been carried out in the Police Force. We have suspended a large number of officers. We tell other officers to immediately get out of that network.”
The Sri Lankan president also said corruption extended into civilian agencies. He cited examples of the Motor Traffic Department issuing number plates without vehicles and said a recent arrest in Gampaha had exposed a police officer in possession of two illegal number plates. He also alleged that immigration officials had facilitated passports for underworld figures, including a case in which a Pettah bookseller provided fingerprints for a criminal’s passport application.
“A black state has been created to serve criminal interests. But let me assure you—there will not be two states in this country. Only the democratic state powered by the people will remain. The black state will be destroyed,” the president declared.
He warned that criminal influence had penetrated politics, alleging that underworld figures had become party organisers and, in some cases, members of parliament, and that attempts were under way to compile separate voter lists. “We are at a decisive hour to end this. Many tell me, ‘If you don’t do this, no one will.’ Some mothers say, ‘Son, if you do only this, it’s enough.’ That’s why we are acting now,” he said.
Dissanayake claimed the current interdictions of police officers represented the toughest crackdown in Sri Lanka’s history, and he urged all state officials involved in illegal activity to withdraw. “To all state officials aiding these crimes: stop now,” he said. “Nothing is hidden anymore. Everyone knows. Leave before it’s too late.”
The government announcement comes amid wider public concern about links between security officials and organised crime.