The rising incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among police personnel has led Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya to issue a circular mandating weekly physical training. All police officers are now required to participate in Saturday morning exercises, with team sports such as volleyball encouraged in the evenings to foster both fitness and camaraderie.
This renewed directive, an extension of a similar initiative introduced last year, comes in response to alarming statistics. In 2023 alone, nearly 250 police officers succumbed to NCDs, a figure that had already surpassed 200 by October this year, according to police sources.
The affected officers primarily suffer from heart, liver, and kidney conditions, cancer, and diabetes. Contributing factors include prolonged 24-hour shifts, irregular meals, and heightened stress levels. The circular emphasizes the urgent need to address these health challenges by promoting better self-care among officers.
Steps are underway to enhance health monitoring within the force. Medical help desks have been established in various divisions to refer officers for specialist care at the Police Hospital in Colombo. Mobile health clinics have also been introduced in regions such as Tangalle and Kilinochchi, aiming to make health services more accessible to officers.
Station-level leadership has been urged to prioritize staff health checks and release personnel for medical evaluations. Alongside these efforts, the police are doubling down on promoting sports as part of the community policing concept to foster well-being and public engagement.
With these measures, authorities aim to build a healthier, more resilient police force while gathering comprehensive health data to drive further improvements.
