SdeZ: A strict disciplinarian and role model

Many a past police officer have become legends due to their efficiency, prudence, humour, courage, controversy and even bravado tinged with foolhardiness. (Some of these references have appeared before in Retired Police Officers’ magazines.)

The first name that comes to mind is Sydney de Zoysa (SdeZ) who retired prematurely in the rank of DIG: There was no rank as Senior DIG then. At the time of his retirement he was an eligible contender for appointment as the Inspector General of Police.

In 1955, when Stanley Senanayake (SP) succeeded SdeZ as Director of the Police Training School (PTS), the lobby was adorned with a dynamic photograph of SdeZ with the words ‘de Zoysa of the School’ inscribed over it, and the words, “You have left behind an example, which as the years roll by, will become a legend”.

SdeZ is quite rightly credited with establishing the PTS at Kalutara as Director PTS from 1948 to 1955. This masterpiece of a training campus with model police stations, quarters for academic and non-academic staff, was not only his brain child. He also made tireless efforts to bring it to fruition.

SdeZ is also remembered as a strict disciplinarian by some senior police officers, who even cite him as a role model. This, however, is misleading especially to serving police officers. Whilst being a hard taskmaster, he also displayed bravado and foolhardiness which are not traits that make a good police officer, and a far cry from a role model. As a result, he ran into many controversies.

One such controversy was when he was a DIG and Ampara District came within his purview. During this period trade union action was rife in Ampara, and Minister Phillip Gunawardena was thought to be fuelling the trade union action. At an instruction class for Police officers in Ampara District, SdeZ, displaying bravado, made some disparaging remarks even threatening the Minister. On hearing of this through the grapevine, the minister made a scathing attack on DIG SdeZ at a public meeting in Ampara, describing him as a thug who should be behind bars and not in the Police.

Reacting to this, SdeZ sued the minister for defamation. Mr. Gunawardena’s defence was that his speech was made in public interest. When giving evidence, SdeZ was asked about him being sacked from S. Thomas’ College for assaulting his class master. Denying the allegation he stated that he used force to defend himself. From more similar answers, the trial judge, seeing through that SdeZ had been a law unto himself, upheld Mr. Gunawardena’s contention that his speech was made bona fide in public interest, and dismissed the case.

Moreover, from a Police point of view, trade union action is not a matter for police to interfere with. This is best illustrated with a parallel case study: In 1959 the Government was faced with trade union strikes crippling the harbor. Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike summoned IGP Osmund de Silva and instructed him to break the strike by arresting and incarcerating the trade union leaders. The IGP pointed out that this would be extra-legal action. The PM told the IGP that he expected extra loyalty from the IGP. The IGP told the PM plainly that his loyalty was to the law of the land. Now that is a role model to follow, whatever the consequences to oneself.

Another controversy was immediately following the assassination of Prime Minister Bandaranaike in 1959. Rumours were afloat implicating Dickie de Zoysa, brother of SdeZ and Ossie Corea who was a close associate of Dickie de Z, and fingers were pointed at SdeZ himself. SdeZ reacted with a press release titled ‘Fact and Rumour’ where he listed the Rumours and gave the ‘Facts’ against each Rumour. He was interdicted over the press release for not obtaining permission from the authorities.

During his period of interdiction, I remember as a recruit Sub Inspector in Galle Police, SP Galle Division W.P.A. Fernando calling police officers in the division for an ‘instruction class’ which was addressed by SdeZ. This revealed the fear and allegiance senior officers had for him. He informed the class that some powerful forces are trying to force him out of the Police but that he had no intention of quitting the Police yet. This was received with a loud applause.

Shortly after the General Elections in 1977, P.L. Munidasa took over as Director Police College where I was the Chief Lecturer. The newly formed J.R. Jayewardene government appointed a high-powered committee to look into the causes of breakdown in discipline and standards in the Police. The Committee was chaired by Deputy Defence Minister T.B. Werapitiya, a retired DIG. SdeZ was also in this committee, which got off to a flying start and held sittings in various parts of the country. Wide publicity was given in the media attributing the cause of the breakdown to the intake of recruits during the 1970-1977 period. Conduct of the lower ranks during special duties in connection with the Pope’s visit in 1977, when subordinate officers hooted and jeered senior police officers was cited as a benchmark of the lowest level to which Police discipline had degenerated.

At a discussion with the staff of the Police College, Mr. Munidasa explained that it was unfair to attribute blame on the new entrants who had to remain in Service, when, in fact, the hooting and jeering was led by older officers in the lower ranks who had joined prior to 1970. He also went on to point out that the lowest point in Police Discipline was in fact in 1962, when very senior Police officers together with subordinates were involved in a coup to overthrow the democratically elected Government. SdeZ was at the bottom of that coup.

When the Werapitiya Committee visited the Police College, SdeZ made his usual highfaluting speech at a general assembly. A meeting of the committee with the senior staff of the college was to follow. I informed Mr. Werapitiya about the stand taken by us and warned him of the showdown if the matter of ‘discipline’ is discussed with SdeZ. The High Powered Committee was entertained to tea by the senior staff and there was no discussion on the topic of discipline.

(The writer is a retired Senior Superintendent of Police. seneviratnetz@gmail.com)