Motion to appoint parliamentary committee to remove IGP Tennakoon enters Order Book

The motion to appoint a committee by Parliament regarding the removal of Deshabandu Tennakoon from the position of IGP by government party members has been entered into the Parliament Order Book.

The Addendum to the Order Book, issued on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, bears the signatures of 115 MPs and outlines 23 charges against Tennakoon.

Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the motion will first be discussed in the Parliamentary Affairs Committee. Following this, it is scheduled for a debate in Parliament after five days. It will then be included in the Order Paper and, after further debate, a vote will be held. To pass, at least 113 members must vote in favour. Subsequently, a committee will be appointed to investigate the charges and submit a report. The report will then be debated in Parliament, and it will be passed by a majority of 113 members of the House.

Minister Dr. Jayatissa confirmed that the relevant motion will be presented to Parliament on either April 8 or 9, and a vote will take place shortly after.

IGP Tennakoon, currently suspended from duty, has been remanded until April 3. He had been evading arrest for 20 days before surrendering to court on March 19 in connection with a 2023 shooting incident near a hotel in the Weligama area.

The motion includes 23 charges against Tennakoon, alleging that while holding office as the IGP, he abused his extensive powers and committed acts of misconduct and/or gross abuse of power. As a result, Tennakoon has fallen short of the high standards expected of someone in the role of IGP, rendering him unsuitable for the position. This conduct is considered an act of misconduct under Section 3(d) of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002.