News
Prez urged to name a person capable of restoring public confidence in Police Department

Post of IGP vacant since 26 June
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) says the next IGP should be a person who can restore public confidence in the Police Department.
In a letter dated 27 June, addressed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the BASL has stressed the need to restore public confidence in the police. The letter reminds the President that the post of IGP has fallen vacant on 26 June.
A spokesman for the Public Security Ministry yesterday told The Island that the IGP had not been appointed. C.D. Wickremaratne received appointment as IGP in the wake of the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, which compelled the then President Sirisena to send IGP Pujitha Jayasundera on compulsory leave.
Full text of the BASL letter: “We are now aware that the office of the Inspector General of Police has fallen vacant on 26th of June 2023. The IGP is the Head of the Police Department and has security of tenure in terms of the Removal of Officers Act No. 5 of 2002. The BASL is of the view that public confidence in the Police is vital for the administration of justice and the rule of law. Hence, it is of utmost importance that the best possible appointment be made to that office.
In recent times we have witnessed serious erosion of public confidence in the Police. The BASL has previously highlighted the lack of independence, politicisation, police brutality, custodial deaths, and lack of professionalism, have all contributed to the erosion of public confidence in the Police. Further, we are of the view that the Easter Sunday attacks are a clear example of the grave ramifications of incompetent individuals holding such high office.
In the case of Mohammed Rashid Fathima Sharmila v K.W.G. Nishantha and others SCFR 398/2008- S.C.M. 03.02.2023 the Supreme Court observed that the police have lost the credibility it ought to have, in the following manner: “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. The incident relevant to this application had taken place in 2008, however, this court observes that instances of death of suspects in police custody are continuing to happen, even today.” (Aluwihare J)
Further, the BASL is also of the view that prior to the approval of the appointment of the Inspector General of Police that the procedures to be followed in regard to recommendations or approvals for appointments under Article 41B or 41C should be determined by the Constitutional Council as provided for in Article 41E(6) of the Constitution.
In the aforesaid the BASL urges that it is of utmost importance that the next Inspector General of Police should be an officer whose service in the police force is exemplary and unblemished and able to restore public confidence in the Sri Lanka Police.”
News
LG Commissioners in dilemma over guidelines and Elections Act

Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake has said the Local Government Commissioners have created confusion and a severe erosion of public trust in the electoral process at local level by adhering to election laws and administrative guidelines selectively without adopting a consistent approach.
The authority to establish local government bodies— particularly the hung ones––has been granted to the Local Government Commissioners in the nine provinces. However, this process has now sparked controversy largely due to ambiguity over how to elect council heads.
At the heart of the issue is the Local Government Elections Act, which does not specify the procedures to be followed in electing the heads of local bodies. To address this issue, the Secretary to the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils has issued a 28-page set of guidelines. This guideline gained much attention during the election of the Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council, where opposition members claimed that the head of the council had to be elected according to the guidelines in question. However, the guidelines merely state, “Each member should be consulted, and the method of voting should be decided accordingly.”
The Opposition seemed to have ignored that there were three acceptable methods of voting––by a show of hands, through a secret ballot, or by using an electronic system, Gajanayake said. Still, the real issue lies in the application of the guidelines by the Local Government Commissioners.
For instance, the Western Province Commissioner opted for a secret ballot in the Colombo MC. In contrast, in many other councils, the voting method was determined based on the preference of the majority of members. In Local Government Institutions in Uva, North Central, and North Western provinces, where members called for open votes by the show of hands— the commissioners complied.
However, inconsistency re-emerged in the first meeting of the Seethawakapura Urban Council of the Colombo District in the Western Province. Out of 25 members,14 requested an open vote. The Commissioner, however, insisted on a secret ballot. As a result, all 14 members walked out in protest, and the meeting was adjourned without electing a head.
By PRIYAN DE SILVA ✍️
News
Hotel shooting: Weligama police probe riddled with flaws, CID tells committee

CID Director of Investigations Ashoka Shelton Karunathilaka told the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee probing the interdicted IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon that numerous flaws had been found in the investigations carried out by the Weligama Police into a shooting incident at the W15 Hotel.
Giving evidence before the special inquiry committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Karunathilaka said that the Weligama Police had proceeded with their investigation riddled with flaws. “Even the locations of spent bullet casings at the crime scene were not properly marked. There was a mismatch between the empty bullet casings and the recovered ammunition. Additionally, CCTV footage from the crime scene area shows inconsistencies.These investigative shortcomings were the reason why legal action was taken against the OIC of the Weligama Police Criminal Investigation Division. Moreover, no proper investigation was carried out into the police officer who was fatally shot.”.
The committee met for the eighth day on Wednesday, when seven witnesses testified. The final witness of the day was Karunathilaka, who pointed out the deficiencies in the initial investigations by the Weligama Police.
At this point, counsel S. Weerawikrama, representing Deshabandu Tennakoon, questioned whether the warrant for Tennakoon’s arrest had been obtained under political or ministerial pressure.
Karunathilaka answered in the negative.
During the session, counsel Weerawikrama raised his voice while cross-examining the witness, prompting one of the committee’s judges to advise him to ask questions without getting agitated.The day’s proceedings concluded with the committee recording the testimonies presented by the prosecution, led by Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris.
By Kamal Bogoda
News
Harshana resigns from Parliament

Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera has informed the Chairman of the Election Commission in writing that a vacancy has arisen in Parliament due to the resignation of Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma.
Dr. Suriyapperuma, a National List Member of Parliament representing the NPP and the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Stabilization, submitted his letter of resignation to the Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera.
According to the letter submitted by Dr Suriyapperuma, the resignation is effective from June 20, 2025.
Accordingly, the Secretary General has informed the Chairman of the Election Commission that, in terms of Section 64(5) of the Parliamentary Elections Act No. 1 of 1981, the seat held by Dr Harsha Suriyapperuma in the Tenth Parliament is now vacant.
Speculation was rife at the time of going to press that Dr. Suriyapperuma would be appointed Secretary to the Finance Ministry.
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