• NPC orders IGP to submit final transfer list by Monday
• Transfer list first submitted before Prez Poll
• Next NPC meeting scheduled for Thursday

The approval of the Police transfer list has been delayed once more, with the National Police Commission (NPC) accusing the Department of Police of repeatedly altering the proposed list. 

As a result, the list submitted thus far has not been approved by the NPC and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has been instructed to submit the amended and finalised version of the list by tomorrow (25). 

As reliably learnt by The Sunday Morning, the transfer list of Police officers, from Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) to the lowest ranks, has reportedly been revised at least four times since it was first taken for review last week, following nearly two months of delays due to the election period.

NPC Chairman Lalith Ekanayake explained that the transfer list had undergone multiple changes after submission to the NPC.

“The list was changed several times – about three to four times – after it was submitted. Last Wednesday (20), we requested Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya to attend a meeting to finalise the transfer list,” Ekanayake informed The Sunday Morning.

“The meeting lasted for about two hours and amendments were made even during the meeting. When one transfer is changed, it impacts several other transfers. Therefore, we asked the IGP to submit a fresh and final list on Monday,” he said.

The NPC Chairman noted that the transfer process had been delayed for nearly two months, initially due to a halt imposed by the Election Commission (EC) during the Presidential Election.

“After the Presidential Election, there was a General Election. We had to wait a week after the election process concluded. It was only last Thursday (21) that the NPC convened. However, we couldn’t finalise the list,” Ekanayake said, adding that the NPC was scheduled to meet again this Thursday (28).

The NPC, established under the 21st Amendment, has the authority to appoint, promote, transfer, discipline, and dismiss Police officers, except for the IGP. It also handles public complaints against the Police and ensures redress. 

The commission oversees recruitment, promotions, transfers, training, efficiency, and independence of the Police service. Additionally, it sets codes of conduct and disciplinary procedures, and decides on the arms and ammunition used by national and provincial Police divisions.

In July, the NPC rejected a request from the then IGP for the immediate transfer of 210 Police officers. The NPC found that the recommendations for these transfers had not complied with established transfer policies. Additionally, the NPC advised against such a large-scale transfer ahead of the upcoming Presidential Election.

However, the commission approved the transfer of 24 officers after considering disciplinary proceedings and medical recommendations. Among these, the NPC recommended the removal of 14 Police Officers-in-Charge (OICs) from their posts and their demotion to regular duties, with a stipulation for immediate disciplinary investigations supported by relevant reports. 

During the investigations, officers exempt from disciplinary action, if approved, would be reassigned to positions similar to their previous roles. Furthermore, the NPC approved the reassignment of eight Police OICs to regular duties and granted transfer requests for eight other Police station officers. Additionally, two officers were transferred based on medical grounds.

In October, there were several notable transfers among senior Police officials. DIG Rohan Premaratne, who was in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), was reassigned as DIG of the Western Province (North). DIG P. Ampavila replaced Premaratne as the new DIG for the CID Range. Prior to this, Ampavila supervised the Financial Intelligence Unit 2 at Police Headquarters, which investigates money laundering, prohibited pyramid schemes, and virtual currencies.

Other senior transfers included DIG D.P. Chandrasiri, who was reassigned from the Galle Range to another range, and DIG E.M.G.J. Seram, who moved from the Community Policing and Environment Protection Range to serve as DIG of the Galle Range. 

WDIG Bimshani Jasin Arachchi was transferred from Police Headquarters’ Recruitment and Training Range to oversee the Community Policing and Environment Protection Range.

All transfers approved by the NPC were subject to the approval of the Election Commission. 

When contacted, Public Security Ministry Secretary Ravi Seneviratne confirmed to The Sunday Morning that the amended list of Police transfers would be submitted to the NPC tomorrow (25).