Speaking to the media, ASP Rohan Olugala said police operations conducted overseas must be carried out in accordance with the laws and protocols of the country concerned.

He explained that Sri Lankan officers cannot operate in a foreign country in the same manner as they would in their own jurisdiction, comparing the situation to someone being unfamiliar with the geography and procedures of an area outside their own locality.

Olugala said the Malaysia operation should therefore not be considered a failure, but rather a learning experience for Sri Lankan authorities in dealing with foreign legal and operational procedures.