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Chandra Fernando, Inspector General of Police said, cases of unresolved crime in Sri Lanka were less than those of other countries, and better investigations were being carried out, than in some developed countries.

Mr. Fernando in an interview with The Sunday Times said, "In any country there is a certain amount of unsolved crimes. When you compare Sri Lanka with other countries we are a bit better because our unsolved crime rate is 35% to 40% while other countries have an unsolved crime rate of 55% to 60%."

"Even in the United Kingdom (UK), they have a large number of unsolved crimes. Our investigations are better. This is because the people there use insurance,” he said.

Excerpts
Q: There has been an increase in abductions and crime in recent months. How would you describe the country's security situation in terms of crime?

A. Crime cannot be categorised according to statistics. There may be a thousand crimes committed but people in the community tolerate it, so there is no fear to offend. Of which only one crime in the community will come to the limelight out of a thousand. Crime takes place on how the community feels for crime. Basically depending on the fear of crime, criminals offend. So this means a greater part of crime is tolerated.

Q:At the moment what is the police department's greatest challenge when it comes to preventing crime?

A. Well, one cannot categorise what the department's biggest challenge is. From an operational point of view it is mainly petty crimes such as pickpockets, thefts, burglaries and other petty crimes. This is a menace to our community. Another big challenge the police face is narcotics and the brewing of illicit liquor.

Q:Since you mentioned several challenges and not one, what is the police doing to overcome these obstacles?

A. We have organised a programme called "operation clean up". It started from Colombo and now we are carrying this out throughout the island. We have conducted raids and have been taking measures to prevent crime.

Q: How would you describe the security situation in Colombo and areas close to Colombo since there was a claymore mine attack in Welisara this week?

A. We are taking all precautionary measures. There is no question about it. The police as well as the security forces are on patrol constantly. Colombo or the Western Province is a large area, the community also has to bear a certain amount of responsibility.

Nothing can be done without the knowledge of the community. In the case of the Welisara incident somebody had to place the claymore mine. You mean to say there were no witnesses to it? Someone must have seen it being brought, but would not have thought it was a claymore mine.

The time has come for the community to be alert in this context and make it a point to inform the police of any suspicious activities. In this manner civilians should support the police.

Q:There have been a few major attacks during the past couple of months in Colombo, do you see an increase in LTTE activity in Colombo?

A. Right now we are facing a conflict situation. The LTTE has been fighting a war in the northern area of the country. In the Eastern province they are fighting a guerrilla war while in other parts of the country it is involved in target hitting. When I say target hitting I mean economic targets, political targets and also by way of vengeance.

In the meantime they have also marked civilian targets and the LTTE can strike anytime. We must not leave room for that. Society has a social obligation to report any suspicious activities and the LTTE has a tendency of using members of the public to leave parcels in areas or use them to transport such parcels. The public must think twice before falling prey to the LTTE.

Q:With regard to the April 25 suicide bomb attack, at the Army Headquarters has the police made any breakthrough ?

A. The investigations into the Army Headquarter attack are progressing well. It is only a matter of time for the police to make a breakthrough. We are also using the latest technology to uncover details of the blast. We are using forensic technology to uncover certain clues in the case.

Q:Is this the first time, that forensic technology is being used by the police department?

A. No, we have used it before on a few occasions, including Kadirgamar's assassination, Sarath Abeypitiya's murder and the Katunayake airport attack. But in this instance we have gone into detail to uncover the truth behind it.

Q: Regarding the Army Headquarters bombing, have you taken anyone into custody or at least identified suspects who could have been involved?

A.That's what I said earlier. It is just a matter of time for us to make a breakthrough. We have identified a few suspects.

Q:What is happening to the investigation into the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar?

A. We are progressing well in this probe too, and the main culprits are taking cover in Killinochchi, but all the other suspects have been arrested. We have arrested around seven or eight suspects who are a part of the conspiracy in this case. Prabhakaran is also another person responsible.

Q: Regarding the Kayts massacre of 13 civilians you told me earlier that the CID had compiled a report and found evidence pointing to LTTE involvement.What was this evidence?

A. A few days before the massacre, the LTTE's civilian movement Makkal Paddai, came to the island of Kayts and distributed leaflets for the area people to close their shops. Some people obeyed, while a few others didn't. On the following day the LTTE came and burnt those shops that were kept open. It was the navy who came and dowsed the fire. There are people who came and gave evidence regarding this.

A. We have not found any evidence linking EPDP cadres. We are doing an in-depth inquiry into the killings. We are trying to find out the background of the people who were killed. We are trying to find out whether they had any EPDP or any LTTE connection.

Q:Regarding the Kayts massacre didn't Magistrate Jeyaram Trotsky say that the CID could not conclude that the LTTE was involved until more evidence was found? So how can the CID come to this conclusion?

A. We have not said anything definite regarding the killings, but we are positive that the dowsing of fire was done by the navy. The people in their statements said that the LTTE had distributed leaflets. What happens is that the LTTE does not come in uniform but dressed in civils, so even if they throw a grenade they are still civilians. When he is armed he is a guerrilla, when he is not armed he is considered an ordinary civilian.

The Magistrate took the statements in Tamil. The evidence was taken by the State Counsel. So there are three institutions that are involved in this investigation the Judiciary, the AG's department and the police. So you can't hide anything in this case.

Q: What happened into the investigation on the Udayan newspaper attack in Jaffna?

A. We arrested a few people and had an identification parade, but the Udayan staff that were present at the parade said those were not the culprits, as such they were released.

Q: The headless corpse found in Avissawella remained a mystery. Have the police found anything regarding this?

A. It still remains a mystery. We haven't been able to determine who was behind this. Also no one has come forward to give any details.

Q: After the increase in fines has there been a decrease in the number of traffic offences reported to the police?

A. The present increase in fines, has acted as a deterrent and the offences have decreased.

Q: With an increase in fines for traffic offences the public complains that there have been an increase in policemen taking bribes, what can you tell me about this?

A. The point is that the public should not encourage it. They should demand for their rights. After committing an offence to get out of the situation they offer money and subsequently they claim that the police are corrupt. They should abide by the law which would also prevent the police from taking bribes.

A. Regarding corruption I have set up a new special investigations unit which comes under the Inspector General of Police. All the ranges now have Special Investigations Units when it comes to combating police corruption.

Q: What is the position of the police when it comes to disciplinary inquiry of police officers?

A.Disciplinary matters and the preliminary inquiries into the interdictions come under me. The Police Commission has devolved a few powers to the IGP such as dismissals.

Q: Amnesty International has brought out allegations against the Sri Lanka police that the number of unsolved crimes surpasses the amount of crimes that have been solved. What can you tell me about this?

A. In any country there is a certain amount of unsolved crimes. When you compare Sri Lanka with other countries our image is better because our unsolved crime rate is 35% to 40% while other countries have an unsolved crime rate of 55% to 60%. Even in the United Kingdom they have a large number of unsolved crimes. Our investigations are better than in the UK. This is because people use insurance. When a crime takes place the insurance pays the compensation. So the police don't have to conduct an in- depth inquiry. Here our people are pushed to do an in depth inquiry.

When it comes to murder we are ahead of most countries. Terrorism is the biggest drawback facing the police. The reason for this is because there are limitations within which the police can operate.

Q:With regard to the murder of Inspector Douglas Nimal have the police identified any suspects?

Q: Is there any involvement of the police in the Inspector's murder as it has been reported that he had problems with the CCD who framed him on charges of drug trafficking but was later discharged, as the CCD had no evidence?

A. If there is a police connection the investigators will know, this is not the first time. In the Gerard Mervyn Perera case the police were arrested. We are not lenient with delinquent police officers. If they are responsible they will be arrested.

Everybody said that Wambotta had been killed by the police. Those who talked then are now silent. The public must help the police to get at the truth

Q: But regarding IP Douglas Nimal's case where police officers were framed, don't you think the credibility of the police took a downward spiral since there was no base in the arrest?

A. I don't know the exact details of the case, when a name is mentioned what are we to do? We were very fair by everybody. We investigated the matter. If an ordinary person's name comes up we go and arrest that person, but we sought evidence in which the CCD acted.

A. From 2002 to 2005 police recruitment was not carried out because there was no money to recruit personnel. But now recruitment is being done and we already have 65,000 police men and women.

Q: What measures have you taken to modernise the police department?
A. During the last two years we introduced a few of the latest technologies. We are now conducting forensic investigations that do DNA testing. We have trained our police officers to handle criminal investigations.

There are 36 laboratories in police stations that have been set up for investigating crime. We also hope to cover the entire Colombo city with every junction being under CCTV cameras. These cameras will be monitored by the Police Emergency unit.