Objection from the Speaker and the Asgiri Chapter to Cardinal Ranjith
The Speaker of the Parliament and the Buddhist Asgiri Chapter have protested against the letter sent by the Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith to the President not to appoint the senior DIGs Nilantha Jayawardena and Deshabandu Tennakoon, who are among the officials scheduled to submit their nominations for the post of the next Inspector General of Police today, 04th of July.
The Speaker of the Parliament and the Asgiriya Buddhist chapter have raised objections to the ‘interference’ by the Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith and said that it is “totally inappropriate”.
Today, the 4th of July, President Wickremesinghe has to recommend a suitable name to the Constituent Assembly for the appointment of the 36th Inspector General of Police (IGP) from among the nominations of four senior police officers including Deshabandu Tennakoon and Nilantha Jayawardena.
Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, in a letter addressed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, informed strictly him not to appoint either Senior Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nilatha Jayawardene or Deshabandu Tennekoon as the new Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Sri Lanka.
Ven Narampanawe Ananda Thero, the deputy registrar of the Asgiri Chapter, stated that the President should have the freedom to decide on the appointment and It is for the first time that an Inspector General of Police has rejected the unnecessary interference of another religious leader regarding the appointment of the Inspector General of Police.
Ven. Ananda Thero conceded that there were instances that called for advice to the president by religious leaders, but insisted the appointment of the IGP was not one of them.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Constitutional Council (CC), the Speaker of the Parliament, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana expressed his views on Cardinal Ranjith’s letter to President, said that it is “totally inappropriate” for the Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith to send a letter to the CC regarding the appointment of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
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