Sri Lanka Catholic Church slams promotion of corrupt Police officer
“We strongly reject the appointment of Senior DIG Deshabandu as the biggest insult to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks. This decision is a “barbaric act.” said Father Cyril Gamini Fernando the official media spokesman of the Archdiocese of Colombo. He made this statement, when President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday appointed Senior DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon as the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Sri Lanka, after a long months of speculation as to who would get the seat.
The Catholic Church strongly criticized the appointment of an officer accused of negligence during the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings as Sri Lanka’s new Inspector General of Police (IGP), Church stated their displeasure while holding a press conference on 29th of November at the Archbishop’s House in Colombo.
“We strongly reject the appointment of Senior DIG Deshabandu as the biggest insult to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks,” told to the media by the Archdiocesan official media spokesperson, Father Cyril Gamini Fernando while conveying the statements of Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.
This decision is a “barbaric act.” Said Father Gamini Fernando.
“If people like the new IGP had done their duty properly, those 273 innocent people would still be alive today,” said Father Gamini Fernando.
The tragedy occurred inside two Catholic churches dedicated to the very famous Saints Anthony and Sebastian, one Zion Church, and three luxury hotels, lost 273 people, and more than 500 injured. Among the victims, there were several foreigners.
Deshabandu Thennakoon was promoted to the post of Acting IGP by President Ranil Wickremasinghe on November 29 after the retirement of C. D. Wickramaratne from the post. Deshabandu Thennakoon has been indicted in a presidential inquiry for failing to prevent the Easter Sunday bombings.
“It is evident that the President’s appointment is geared towards safeguarding the interests of several power-hungry individuals within his circle, including the minister responsible for public safety and police,” alleged Father Fernando.
Also, he reminded the media of the accusation that this Deshabandu Tennakoon had allegedly used undue influence to transfer money found inside the President’s House to the minister of public safety and police without placing it under court custody.
Aragalaya protesters discovered 17.85 million rupees in crisp new banknotes but turned it over to police after storming the Presidential palace.
The cash was taken over by the police and was to be produced in court but Thennakoon reportedly instructed the officer-in-charge at Fort Police Station to hand over the cash to the minister.
“We observe that the President, by appointing an individual accused of such actions as the IGP, demonstrates a lack of concern for the safety of the people in the country,” Father Fernando stressed.
Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Ranjith and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka had urged the president, through letters and petitions, to refrain from nominating Thennakoon for the position of IGP. But this shows President Wickremasinghe’s rejection of the plea of the Catholic Church.
However, the appointment has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising Thennakoon’s experience and expertise saying it will be valuable in leading the police force and implementing strategies to curb crime, while others have expressed concerns about his alleged ties to the former Rajapaksa regime, questioning his impartiality.
Taking over his duties, Deshabandu Thennakoon said he would give priority to safeguarding national security and to crack down on drugs and organized crimes in the country.
Thennakoon concurrently chaired a committee assigned by Public Security Minister Tiran Alles to examine and propose measures for tackling drug and underworld activities. He previously pledged to effectively address organized crime nationwide within the next six months.
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