News
Wimal: Country descending into anarchy without duly-appointed IGP
By Saman Indrajith
The country was descending into anarchy with no IGP to head the Police Department, NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa told Parliament yesterday.
“There is no legitimate IGP in this country today . We call on the government not to play with law and order,” MP Weerawansa said.
Weerwansa said that the Constitutional Council had not approved a service extension for the incumbent IGP. “Without Constitutional Council approval an IGP cannot be appointed. The President is the appointing official but the approval for that appointment should come from the Constitutional Council. That is what the Constitution says.
Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe: It is the President who has made this appointment.
Weerawansa: The Deputy Speaker is not the representative of the President. Therefore, the Deputy Speaker should not speak on behalf of the President. There is a Prime Minister and subject Ministers to speak on behalf of the President. We need answers from the Executive. The Deputy Speaker is not representative of the Executive.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena: The Speaker will make a statement in this regard. The President has powers to make appointments. The Constitutional Council needs to meet and discuss this issue.
Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa: The Constitutional Council has not approved the third service extension given to the incumbent IGP. TNA MP MA Sumanthiran: As per the law there is no IGP in the country at this moment.
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is on an official visit to Paris, France to participate in the high-level segment of the International Expert Conference on ’An Integrated and Sustainable Approach to Safeguarding the World Heritage Property of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and Associated Living Heritage’ which was to be held at UNESCO Headquarters today [Tuesday 1 April], with the participation of the Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay.
The Conference, organized by UNESCO in partnership with Sri Lanka, brings together leading international experts to discuss sustainable strategies for the conservation of Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of immense cultural and historical significance.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet senior interlocutors of the French Government to discuss bilateral cooperation and areas of mutual interest.
The Delegation of the Prime Minister includes the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) BUNGO and ETAJIMA arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill visit this morning (01 Apr 25).
The visiting ships were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
The 141m long JMSDF BUNGO is an Uraga-Class Minesweeper Tender commanded by Commander TANAKA Koji and the ship is manned by a crew of 125.
Meanwhile, JMSDF Etajima, a 65-meter-long Minesweeper, is under the command of Commander Oda Takayuki and operates with a crew of 54 personnel.
During the stay in the island, crew members of the ships will explore some tourist attractions within the city of Colombo. The ships are scheduled to set sail from Colombo on 04 Apr.
“You and your families will be eliminated”
By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randun
A full-scale investigation has been launched to track down an underworld character, ‘Navy Dinesh,’ a key accomplice of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, for issuing death threats over the phone to three police officers, including the Gampaha HQI, Crime Branch OIC, of the same police station, and others.
Navy Dinesh is believed to have fled the country.
According to police sources, threats were issued following the arrest of Navy Dinesh’s father and brother in connection with a drug trafficking case.
Phone analysis reports have confirmed that the calls originated from Dubai and France.
Following the murder of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, Navy Dinesh assumed leadership of the underworld gang he had previously been involved with.
Navy Dinesh contacted the Gampaha HQI, the OIC of the Crime Branch, and the investigating police constable, and threatened to kill them and their family members. “You and your families will be eliminated,” he said.
A special police team had been assigned to investigate the matter, and a report has been submitted to the courts, police sources said.
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