• Awaits president’s return to decide

The Government is yet to make a decision on appointing an officer to the position of Inspector General of Police (IGP) which is going to be vacant soon with the expected retirement of the incumbent IGP C.D. Wickremaratne, The Daily Morning learns.

IGP Wickremaratne, who had submitted retirement papers earlier this year, was provided with a three-month service extension.

Following the extension given to IGP Wickremaratne expiring on June 26, the Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles yesterday (18) told The Daily Morning that a decision can only be taken once the President Ranil Wickremesinghe returns from the official overseas visit he is currently on. He also said that no decision has yet been taken on the person who is to be appointed to the position of IGP.

“We have enough time to make a decision and we hope to make the appointment as soon as the President returns from overseas,” Alles opined.

In March 2023, The Constitutional Council approved the proposal made by the President to grant a three-month service extension for IGP Wickremeratne.

Meanwhile, the names of three senior most officers, currently serving the Police Department, i.e.- Senior DIG (Administration) Nilantha Jayawardena, Senior DIG (Central Province) L.S. Pathinayake and Senior DIG (Western Province) Deshabandu Tennakoon, have allegedly been nominated for the position of IGP.

However, the two of the nominees, Jayawardena and Tennakoon have been nominated as they have been named by the five-member Presidential Commission of Inquiry that investigated the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Government had to delay the appointment of the new IGP amidst the public opposition raised over the senior most candidates. The Presidential Commission to Investigate into the Easter Sunday Attacks, in their final report had directed the Attorney General to consider criminal proceedings under any suitable provision in the Penal Code against SDIG Jayawardena, who had served as Director State Intelligence Service (SIS) at the time of the Easter bombings. SDIG Tennakoon has also been accused for not taking actions to prevent the May 09 violence, dereliction of duty, involvement in custodial deaths, abuse of power among others.  

Previously, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, in a letter addressed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, also requested that an officer facing fundamental rights or criminal cases or allegations of unlawful activity not be appointed as Wickramaratne’s successor.