DIG rank open to female police officers

The National Police Commission (NPC) is looking to implement a scheme whereby Woman Police Constables (WPCs) would be promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG). At present, the highest rank a WPC can rise to before retirement is Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).

Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo today, NPC Secretary Ariyadasa Cooray noted though there were currently 11,000 women employed in the police force, their opportunities for promotion were extremely limited.  Currently there is only one approved cadre position for a female SSP, two for SPs and 15 for ASPs.

Discussions were currently underway to change this situation and to ensure that female police officers are given the opportunity to rise to the rank of a DIG, the NPC stressed. NPC members acknowledged the current setup does not allow for a woman to be appointed as an Inspector General of Police (IGP). However, they said that the situation too could gradually change.

In a further development, nine female ASPs have been appointed to the nine provinces to hear grievances of WPCs. This had been done in consultation with the IGP regarding concerns that a WPC may not feel comfortable talking to a male superior officer with regard to certain issues they faced, including complaints regarding harassment in the workplace.