Sir William Robert Campbell was the first British colonial Inspector General of Police of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). After serving as chief of police in the Indian province of Rathnageri, he was appointed as Chief Superintendent of Police in Ceylon to be in charge of the Police Force on September 3, 1866. Therefore, the 3rd of September 1866 is considered as the beginning of Sri Lanka Police Service. The post was changed to Inspector General of Police in 1867.