The Speaker of the Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne has informed the Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to nominate names for the committee to be appointed to investigate allegations of misconduct and abuse of power against suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon.

The request has been sent in writing to both the Premier and the Opposition Leader, it has been reported. The Speaker has also notified the Chief Justice (CJ) and other relevant parties in writing in this regard. 

According to the Parliamentary Standing Orders, the CJ is required to appoint a judge while a professional who is agreed upon by both the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader must also be named to the committee. According to the provisions, the Chairperson of the National Police Commission must be included as a mandatory member of the committee. Once the committee is formally established, the investigation is expected to begin immediately.

A resolution to appoint a Committee of Inquiry for the removal of Tennakoon from his position as the IGP due to alleged misconduct and abuse of power, was passed in the Parliament on 8 April. A total of 151 Parliamentarians voted in favour of the resolution, with none voting against it. The motion was presented by National People’s Power Government MP Lakmali Hemachandra. 

Accordingly, the resolution to appoint a Committee of Inquiry in terms of Section 5 of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002, to remove Tennakoon from the office of the IGP for misconduct and gross abuse of power of his office in terms of Sections 3(d) and 3(e) read with Section 5 of the said Act was unanimously passed without a debate in the Parliament.