According to existing regulations, the Constitutional Council’s approval is required for any individual serving as Acting IGP for more than 14 days. Weerasooriya was appointed to the role by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on September 27, under the President’s constitutional powers. He received his letter of appointment from the President’s Secretary, Dr. Nandika Kumanayake, at the Presidential Secretariat.
Prior to his current role, SDIG Weerasooriya served as the Senior Deputy Inspector General of the North Central Province, a position he held since March 2024. With 36 years of distinguished service, Weerasooriya has worked across various ranks in law enforcement, from Police Constable to Senior DIG, taking on key operational, middle, and strategic management roles.
Notably, SDIG Weerasooriya is the first officer in the 158-year history of the Sri Lanka Police to rise from the rank of Police Constable to Acting Inspector General of Police. He holds a law degree from the University of Colombo and was sworn in as a lawyer at Sri Lanka Law College. Additionally, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management.
In recognition of his exemplary service, Weerasooriya has received 10 commendation letters from former IGPs. His career includes roles as Deputy Inspector General of Police for Crime and Traffic, Director of Police Logistics, and participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions in East Timor and Haiti.
At the time of his appointment as Acting IGP, Weerasooriya was serving as the Senior DIG in charge of the North Central Province.