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Background of Criminal Justice System in Sri Lanka (1948 – 1970)


A number of changes can be found in the criminal justice system during the selected period due to the increment of crime.

When considering Police, after the independence of Sri Lanka, Richard Aluvihare became the IG as the first Sri Lankan IG in 6th January 1947. He introduced several innovative measures to embrace the welfare of the men, investigation, prevention and detection of crime, crime prevention societies, rural volunteers, police kennels, public relations, new methods of training and improvement of conditions of service. In 1946, the Police Commission was appointed to look into the reorganization of the police service. From 1952, the recruitment of women police officers to the police force began. Traffic police headquarters was established in 1953 to enforce traffic laws, prevent violation of traffic regulation as well as to investigate accidents. In 1966, John Attygalle became the Inspector General of Police and established the Police Public Relations Bureau.

In 1956, it was abolished the appeals to the Judicial Committee to the Privy Council in London.

Between that period, probation services were expanded covering all the judicial areas. Remand houses, Certified schools and Probation hostels were organized. For the first time in Asia, first Open Prison was established in Pallekele in 1950. Death penalty was suspended in 1956. Open camps in Anuradhapura, Batticaloa and Jaffna were established in 1957 – 1958. Death penalty was re-introduced in 1960.

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