News
Church slams promotion of tainted officer
Deshabandu Tennakoon has been indicted in presidential inquiry for failing to prevent the Easter Sunday bombings
(UCAN) The Catholic Church officials along with rights activists have criticized the appointment of an officer accused of negligence during the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings as new Inspector General of Police (IGP).Deshabandu Tennakoon was promoted to the post of Acting IGP by President Ranil Wickremasinghe on Nov. 29 after the retirement of C. D. Wickramaratne from the post.
“We strongly reject the appointment as the biggest insult to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks,” said Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.
The condemnation was conveyed to the media by Father Cyril Gamini, official media spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Colombo, at a press conference on Nov. 29.
In the violence that shocked the island nation, bombs exploded inside three churches and three luxury hotels killing 273 people and more than 500 injured. The victims included foreigners.
“If people like the new IGP had done their duty properly, those 273 innocent people would still be alive today,” Gamini told the media.
The Police Media Division stated the appointment was made by President Wickremasinghe exercising the powers vested in him. The decision was made after Wickramaratne’s retirement on Nov. 25, following four service extensions.
Gamini, who is also the spokesperson for the Easter Attack Committee of the Sri Lankan Church, described the decision as a “barbaric act.”
“The Presidential Commission of Inquiry has indicted Tennakoon for failing to prevent the Easter Sunday bombings, but till now, no such investigation has been carried out [against him],” the priest said.
Critics, including church and rights activists, also raised concerns about other charges against the police officer, such as his failure to prevent a mob attack on the Aragalaya (people’s struggle) in July 2022.
“It is evident that the President’s appointment is geared towards safeguarding the interests of several power-hungry individuals within his circle, including the minister responsible for public safety and police,” alleged Gamini.
He reminded the media of the accusation that Tennakoon had allegedly used undue influence to transfer money found inside the President’s House to the minister of public safety and police without placing it under court custody.
As reported in the media, millions of rupees in cash were left behind by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa when he fled his official residence in the capital in July 2022.
Protesters discovered 17.85 million rupees (about $50,000) in crisp new banknotes but turned it over to police after storming the Presidential palace.
The cash was taken over by the police and was to be produced in court but Tennakoon reportedly instructed the officer-in-charge at Fort Police Station to hand over the cash to the minister.
“We observe that the President, by appointing an individual accused of such actions as the IGP, demonstrates a lack of concern for the safety of the people in the country,” Gamini remarked.
Cardinal Ranjith and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka had urged the president, through letters and petitions, to refrain from nominating Tennakoon for the position of IGP.
They highlighted that widespread opposition to the appointment exists across among rights activists, professionals including lawyers, and citizens.
“The issue lies not with an individual but with the quality and trust associated with the position,” said Father Rohan Silva, an Oblate Priest who has been fighting for justice for the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks.
He said the appointment of Tennakoon “will be a disaster for the country.”
The appointment now needs to be approved by a Constitutional Council, a ten-member body including the parliament’s Speaker, Prime Minister, Opposition leader and representatives from civil society.
After his appointment, the new IGP attended a religious ceremony at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo and spoke to the media afterward.
“Dealing with national security is top on my priority list. The second priority is to eliminate the drug situation in the country,” Tennakoon said.
Several ex-Cabinet ministers questioned; Ranil, Sajith, too likely to be summoned
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has initiated an inquiry into the shifting of the Agriculture Ministry situated at Rajamalwatte, to a building belonging to the D. P. Jayasinghe Group of Companies, at Rajagiriya, during the Yahapalana government.
The building was rented for a five-year period at a cost of over Rs 1 bn by the yahapalana government within months after the then President Maithripala Sirisena declared opened the 10-storey building complex.
The CIABOC yesterday morning recorded former yahapalana minister Gayantha Karunatilleke’s statement in connection with the investigation. Later in the day, CIABOC recorded the statement of SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabanadara. Earlier CIABOC summoned former ministers Thalatha Atukorale, Wajira Abeywardena and Lakshman Kiriella. At the time of the finalisation of the deal, KIriella was in the UNP.
Sources said that former PM and President Ranil Wickremesinghe, too, was likely to be questioned in this regard. Responding to The Island queries, sources pointed out even SJB leader Sajith Premadasa was expected to be questioned.
The then Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is on record as having said that the building was rented in keeping with a decision taken by the government and not Parliament.
The UNP-SLFP coalition shifted the Agriculture Ministry to accommodate 16 Sectoral Oversight Committees therein.
Although the government paid as much as Rs. 21.5 mn monthly rent to D.P.A. Jayasinghe Company, the Agriculture Ministry failed to move in for over a year. The then Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake sought Cabinet approval on Dec 1, 2015 to rent the building.
According to inquiries conducted earlier by the Presidential Commission appointed to probe state sector corruption, the Agriculture Ministry sought Cabinet approval for a new building after the then Prime Minister Wickremesinghe submitted a cabinet proposal on 21 September, 2015, to use the Agriculture Ministry building for Parliament’s sectoral oversight committees.
PM Wickremesinghe’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has told the Commission that public funds could have been saved if the several vacant floors of Suhurupaya belonging to the Defence Ministry had been made available to the Agriculture Ministry.
By Shamindra Ferdinando ✍️
Railway sources said that the damages caused to railway tracks could be more than USD 300 mn.
According to UNDP Rapid Crisis Assessment Sri Lanka’s railroad system, over 278 km of railways were exposed to cyclone-related flooding, including 35 railroad bridges nationwide. This figure reflects flooding only, but other hazards (such as localised debris, landslides, or damage to a single bridge) can also disrupt operations, meaning that even relatively small obstructions can render long stretches of railway non-operational. Like road exposure, railway exposure limits mobility and the capacity of affected populations to access key services and infrastructure.
At the level of divisional secretariats, Colombo and Thimbirigasyaya in Colombo District, Ja Ela in Gampaha District, as well as Mannar Town and Nanaddan in Mannar District all registered over 10 km of exposed railways each.
Commissioner-General of Essential Services B.K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi is on record as having said that only 478 kilometers of Sri Lanka’s 1,593-km railway network were currently usable following extensive damage caused by the recent cyclone.
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker arrived in Colombo yesterday (11) to underscore US interest in defence, trade and maritime security in line with their Indo-Pacific strategy.
The US embassy here issued the following statement: “Under Secretary Hooker will meet with Sri Lankan counterparts to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, focused on deepening economic and commercial ties, strengthening defence cooperation, and supporting Sri Lanka’s economic and maritime sovereignty.
The United States and Sri Lanka share a strong and enduring partnership rooted in our mutual commitment to regional security, economic growth, and prosperity for our peoples. Through close cooperation on defence, trade, and maritime security, we are working together to advance a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific region.
As we continue to build on our strategic partnership, the United States also stands with the people of Sri Lanka as they respond to the devastating impacts of Cyclone Ditwah. We remain committed to working together to address both immediate challenges and long-term opportunities for our two nations, reflecting our ongoing commitment to the U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership.”
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