News
Lawyers’ Collective alleges service extensions for IGP unconstitutional
says those named by PCoI on Easter Sunday carnage must not be considered for top post
The Lawyers’ Collective has strongly condemned the fourth extension granted to C. D. Wickremeratne, who passed the mandatory retirement age eight months ago. The group alleges that the extension has been granted unconstitutionally without the concurrence of the Constitutional Council.
The Lawyers’ Collective is an umbrella organization of several groups of legal professionals, individual lawyers and legal academics protecting democracy, the rule of law and judicial independence.The following is the text of the statement by the Lawyers’ Collective:
“The Lawyers’ Collective expresses deep concern over the failure to appoint an Inspector General of Police according to the Constitution and its profound impact on the Police Department and the criminal justice system. Over the last eight months, the President has repeatedly extended Mr. C D Wickremeratne’s tenure, even after he has surpassed the age of compulsory retirement. Yet another purported extension, without approval of the Constitutional Council, appears to have been made by the President on or about 3rd November 2023.
The failures of leadership have contributed to a significant erosion of public confidence in the Sri Lanka Police over the past few decades. Issues such as a lack of independence, politicization, torture, custodial deaths, and a lack of professionalism have all played a role in diminishing trust in the police.
The recent Supreme Court case of Mohammed Rashid Fathima Sharmila v K.W.G. Nishantha and others (SCFR 398/2008- S.C.M. 03.02.2023) highlighted the loss of credibility within the police force, stating, “It only highlights the utterly unprofessional approach to duty by the personnel who man it, and as a consequence, people are increasingly losing trust in the police.
It had lost the credibility it ought to enjoy as a law enforcement agency.”
In these circumstances, the Lawyers’ Collective emphasizes the critical importance of restoring public confidence in the Sri Lanka Police for the administration of justice and the rule of law.
In accordance with the Constitution, Article 41C, the President has a duty to nominate a candidate for the IGP position and shall only appoint a candidate approved by the Constitutional Council. Both the President and the Constitutional Council are entrusted with the sacred duty of ensuring that the appointed individual possesses an exemplary service record, is free of any blemishes, and has the capability to rebuild trust in the police.
The Lawyers’ Collective reminds that the highest norms and standards of good governance guaranteed by the Constitution must be upheld by the Executive in the selection of the Inspector General of Police. It is of paramount importance that individuals who have been found to have violated fundamental rights or perpetrated illegalities or criminal acts, against whom there are fundamental rights or criminal cases pending and against whom allegations of involvement in unlawful activities, including torture and police brutality, or serious negligence in their duties including in relation to the Easter Sunday massacre should not be considered for this appointment. The Collective emphasizes that seniority is but one consideration and that the appointment to this office demands that the most suitable candidate be nominated.
Furthermore, the Lawyers’ Collective suggests that prior to the approval of the Inspector General of Police’s appointment, the Constitutional Council adopt rules for the procedures and processes governing the performance and discharge of the Council’s duties and functions, as provided for by the Constitution, to ensure a rigorous process and merit based and accountable decisions.”
The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.
Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.
The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses
will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”
In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125
News
Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area
The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.
The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.
A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.
Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.
The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.
The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.
The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.
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Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area
Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.
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