• Practitioners call for comprehensive legislation, adequate resources 
• Rights activists call for internal best practices, transparency, oversight 

The Government has announced plans to draft new legislation specifically targeting organised crime, a critical step authorities say is long overdue in the fight against sophisticated criminal networks. 

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya recently addressed the media highlighting the intentions behind this new law, emphasising its timely need amid emerging challenges in criminal activities.

“We are bringing in a new law to combat organised crime, which will fill in a gap in our laws,” said IGP Weerasooriya.

He referenced previous attempts to introduce similar laws, such as the Anti-Terrorism Bill, noting these had never materialised into effective legislation. The Minister of Justice also alluded to efforts underway to develop such a legislation during a recently broadcast television talk show. 

“We have been in dire need of an organised crime act and a bill was proposed in 2003 but it never went further than that, so it is a positive development that we are finally moving forward with a new law to combat organised crime,” IGP Weerasooriya said. 

He stressed the law’s importance given the rise of illegal narcotics trade alongside cybercrimes tackled by recent legislation like the Online Safety Act. “We hope that an organised crime law will be another step forward.”

What the bill will contain is yet to be revealed as the legislation is still in its drafting phase. Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara told The Sunday Morning that he was unable to comment on the bill until he had finished studying it.

Key provisions

Ideally, the new legislation should aim to incorporate successful elements from international frameworks such as the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), the US Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) Act, and Italy’s anti-mafia laws. 

Key provisions that must be taken under consideration include clear definitions of organised crime focused on their structured and ongoing operations motivated by material benefit, criminalising conspiracy to commit serious crimes, and instituting meaningful penalties such as long prison terms, heavy fines, and asset forfeiture.

Special investigative techniques like undercover operations, wiretaps, and enhanced witness protection will be critical. Preventive measures like seizure and community reinvestment programmes and institutions specialised for enforcement are also planned. 

Moreover, the law should emphasise international cooperation for extradition and joint investigations, ensuring alignment with global standards while respecting Sri Lanka’s Constitution and human rights commitments.

Former IGP and Police Commission member Chandra Fernando emphasised that tackling organised crime relied heavily on quality intelligence gathering. “They must make this law very strong in that aspect,” he said.

Fernando highlighted the importance of hiring highly qualified personnel for anti-organised crime units, warning that current appointments lacked both quality and motivation. 

“Drug cartels will target those investigating them and try to bribe, blackmail, threaten, and even assassinate, so there must be individuals of a certain calibre recruited for this task,” he stressed, advocating for hiring criteria that included rigorous background and psychological screenings.

He also stressed the importance of recruiting personnel who were above corruption.

“Another quality that we must look at when hiring people is that they must also have the drive and want to tackle organised crime. It is not just a matter of giving high wages to those appointed if they have no keen interest in investigating and combating organised crime. 

“Hiring individuals who are intent on carrying out this purpose and who are not corruptible must also be taken into account and the act should also include these criteria for hiring. There must be proper background screening, including psychological screening of people who are being hired to battle organised crime. We need a good quality taskforce,” Fernando concluded. 

Call for professionalism

Criminal lawyer and People’s Lawyers Association Head Senaka Perera called for professionalism and adherence to proper investigative procedures to avoid abuses such as torture and wrongful arrests. 

“Whatever act that is brought in, a common issue we are facing right now with law and order is that our investigations are not conducted in a professional manner. There are a few officials who follow proper methodology but on average most investigations are done haphazardly, ignoring rules and regulations. 

“That is why we see a lot of abuse and torture of suspects. First we must ensure that fair and transparent investigations are conducted and this responsibility lies solely with the Police, not the Judiciary or the Government,” he said, reminding that suspects’ rights must be upheld with the presumption of innocence. 

Perera also urged incorporating emerging technologies into Police work to keep pace with criminals’ use of advanced tools. “With technology evolving at an unprecedented pace, criminals are some of the first to use new tech for illegal activities. Likewise, authorities have to keep up.”

Importance of transparency 

National Peace Council Executive Director Dr. Jehan Perera emphasised the importance of transparency and public participation in the legislative process. 

“It should be done transparently, after public debate, getting feedback from human rights groups and from those interested and involved in public security,” he said, adding that bipartisan support was crucial for sustainable and effective laws on organised crime.

He also urged the Opposition to conduct itself to benefit the people and not just its political goals. “The Opposition has to be responsible because we have sometimes seen the Opposition opposing for the sake of it. But if it is to be a truly good law it must be bipartisan because these are very important laws which affect the freedoms of people.”

Rising crime levels

This new legislation comes amid rising incidents linked to organised gangs in Sri Lanka. IGP Weerasooriya revealed that 58 organised crime groups and approximately 1,400 affiliates had been identified nationwide so far in 2025. 

Violent incidents including shootings and killings linked to these groups have also been reported, with Police making significant seizures of illegal firearms. Efforts have extended to international cooperation with extraditions and diplomatic actions ongoing. The Police has introduced reward programmes and hotlines for public cooperation.

The Government’s initiative to draft an organised crime law marks a significant policy shift, reflecting the pressing need to enhance Sri Lanka’s criminal justice response to complex criminal enterprises that threaten national security and public safety. 

Experts advocate that the law must integrate international best practices while ensuring robust investigative powers combined with safeguards for human rights and integrity in law enforcement personnel. 

Transparency, professionalism, and multi-stakeholder engagement will be pivotal in shaping effective legislation to confront organised crime head-on.