Wickremasinghe Rajaguru Explained

W. B. Rajaguru
Order:25th
Office:Inspector General of Police (Sri Lanka)
Term Start:29 July 1995
Term End:31 August 1998
Predecessor:Frank de Silva
Successor:Lakdasa Kodituwakku
Birthname:Wickremasinghe B. Rajaguru
Birth Date:31 August 1938
Alma Mater:St. Anthony's College, Kandy
Profession:Police officer

Wickremasinghe B. Rajaguru (born 31 August 1938) was the 25th Inspector General of the Sri Lanka Police (IGP) (1995 - 1998).[1]

Rajaguru attended St. Anthony's College, Kandy.[2]

In 1993 he was forcibly retired at the age of 55 but following the election of the People's Alliance government at the 1994 parliamentary elections they granted the option for senior police officers who had faced potential political victimisation to appeal and request to be re-instated with back-wages. Rajaguru was one of the six officers reinstated and placed in the rank of Senior DIG.[3]

He was appointed as IGP on 29 July 1995. In 1996 he established the Central Anti Vice Striking Force (CAVSF), a police division whose focus was stopping public-order crimes like gambling, narcotics, prostitution, and illegal sales of alcohol.[4]

On 7 December 1996 an American-built Bell 212 air force helicopter carrying Sri Lanka’s Deputy Defence Minister, Anuruddha Ratwatte, Army Commander, Rohan Daluwatte and Rajaguru crashed several miles north of the Weli Oya army base in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam-held jungle of northern Sri Lanka. The officers trekked 5km (03miles) before being found by commandos sent to rescue them.[5] [6] [7] [8]

Rajaguru retired from the police service on 31 August 1998. He was succeeded by Lakdasa Kodituwakku.[9]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of Inspector General of Police. Sri Lanka Police. 21 August 2019.
  2. Web site: The Antonian Wall of Fame. St. Anthony's College, Kandy Old Boys’ Association. 13 January 2020.
  3. News: Police Under Chandrika. Rajan. Hoole. Colombo Telegraph. 7 March 2015. 10 February 2020.
  4. News: Anti-vice Striking Force back in action. Jayampathy. Jayasinghe. Sunday Observer. 26 September 2004. 10 February 2020.
  5. News: Sri Lanka Information Monitor: Situation Report. Colombo. December 1996. Inform: Situation Report: December 1996: Overview.
  6. News: The Sri Lanka Monitor . London. December 1996. 107. Vavuniya Drama.
  7. News: Tamil Times. Surrey. 15 December 1996. 15. 12. News Review: Anurudha's Brush with Death.
  8. News: Helicopter with Top Defense Official, Army and Police Chiefs Crashes. Niresh. Eliatamby. 7 December 1996. The Associated Press. 10 February 2020.
  9. News: Death of IGP Lucky Kodituwakku. Norman. Palihawadana. The Island. 29 August 2002. 9 February 2020.