The United National Party (UNP) has called on the Sri Lanka Police to withdraw its recent statement requesting the public to report individuals who have allegedly acquired significant assets or are maintaining luxurious lifestyles without an apparent lawful source of income.

Issuing a statement, the UNP stated that the role and responsibilities of the Police Service, as outlined in the Report of the Independent Inquiry issued for the Police Service in the United Kingdom and endorsed through the Statement of Common Purpose, are to uphold law and order, bring offenders to justice, and maintain peace.

The party claimed that the statement issued by the Sri Lanka Police violates these principles.

The UNP pointed out that Sri Lanka does not have a wealth tax and stated that many people, particularly in rural areas, have accumulated wealth through legitimate means, including income earned through foreign employment.

The party further noted that some individuals may have failed to declare certain assets due to a lack of awareness regarding the tax system.

According to the UNP, there is currently no clearly defined procedure to determine what constitutes wealth acquired without an apparent lawful source of income, and therefore the Police statement could potentially become a means of harassment and intimidation.

The party stated that the matter should have been discussed with relevant institutions, including the Police Narcotics Bureau, the Department of Inland Revenue, and the Attorney General’s Department, before issuing a statement with clearly defined guidelines.

The UNP has therefore urged the Police to withdraw the existing statement and issue a more specific and clearly defined notice, warning that failure to do so could lead to harassment of people, particularly in rural areas.