Supreme Court Issues Interim Order Barring Deshabandu Tennakoon from IGP Post

Today, (24th July) the Supreme Court issued an interim order preventing Deshabandu Tennakoon from performing duties and functioning in the position of the Sri Lanka Inspector General of Police (IGP). We see that it is a very important and appropriate decision taken by the Honorable Court to suspend the Acting Inspector General of Police. Also, it is the hope of the entire country that a person who is not subject to politics and who can work to hold an independent and fair democratic election without acting as the politicians want, gets this position, said Father Cyril Gamini.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court directed the President to take steps to nominate a suitable person for the post of Inspector General of Police during the period of this interim order.

The Supreme Court issued this order by allowing the hearing of 09 fundamental rights petitions submitted by the stakeholders including Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith requesting to issue an order nullifying the decision taken by the President to appoint Deshbandu Tennakoon as the Inspector General of Police in Sri Lanka.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Yasanta Kodagoda, Achala Vengappuli and Mahinda Samayawardena announced these orders.

Announcing the verdict, the three-judge bench chairman, Justice Yasanta Kodagoda, stated that the petitioners have succeeded in establishing a strong case before the court in this petition hearing.

Accordingly, the court decided to hold a hearing against the Attorney General, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Deshabandu Tennakoon on behalf of the President who were named as respondents in the relevant petitions.

In addition to this, the bench mentioned that an interim restraining order will be issued preventing Superintendent of Police Deshbandu Tennakoon from working as the Inspector General of Police, exercising his powers, and performing his duties until the hearing of this petition is completed.

After that, if there are any objections related to the petitions, the bench ordered to file them within six weeks and also ordered to call the petitions again on November 11th.

A three-member bench had on several previous occasions considered the nine petitions put forward by several parties including the Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Prof. Savitri Gunasekara, former MP Hirunika Premachandra, and several others.

The Speaker of Parliament, the members of the Constitutional Council, IGP Tennakoon, the Attorney General, and several others have been named as the respondents of the petitions.

The petitioners allege that Tennakoon had neglected his duties during his tenure as the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) of the Western Province when the 2019 Easter attacks happened, and when a pre-mediated attack was launched on the ‘GotaGoGama’ protest site at the Galle Face Green where several protesters were brutally assaulted.

They emphasized that the post of the police chief, who is responsible for the implementation of the law in the country, should be given to an individual who has humane qualities, as opposed to someone who acted contrary to his assigned duties and in violation of basic human rights.

President’s Attorney Saliya Peiris pointed out that it is surprising that the Attorney General’s Department itself has requested to keep Deshbandu Tennakon as the Inspector General of Police, who was informed by the Attorney General to be named as a suspect in the criminal case related to the attack on the Galle face struggle.

Several activists of the ARAGALYA (Galle face struggle) shared their views over the verdict with Asia News and said that “this is a win at this moment, but we want to see it as a win of democracy by giving him the real verdict (punishment)” they said.

The Association of Young Journalists has lodged several grievances against certain police officers, yet they have not replied appropriately. Hence, we believed that in order to create a law-abiding nation, it would be inappropriate for someone like Deshbandu to serve as the Inspector General of Police. Thus, we have questioned his credentials and selection. Today, the High Court decided that his appointment is not in accordance with regulations. We anticipate the completion of this case in the future. Tharindu mentioned.

He also mentioned that the Association of Young Journalists is anticipating the president will select a qualified individual for the role while adhering to the Constitution.

Also, he said that they – the Association of Young Journalists hope that the president will appoint a worthy person to the position without violating the Constitution again.

At a press briefing today held at the Bishop’s house, Father Cyril Gamini Fernando the media spokesman of the Commission for the Archdiocese Easter attack, told that there is a recommendation against him in the Presidential Commission of Inquiry related to the Easter attack. The Cardinal filed a case demanding a disciplinary investigation against him for failing to prevent the Easter attack. Some time ago it was announced in the media that a disciplinary investigation was conducted.

“But such a disciplinary investigation should be conducted by suspending his office. But no such proper inspection was done. And the inspection was carried out by officials who were lower grades than him. Therefore, that disciplinary examination is not an examination that we can accept. In the past few days, many social media have published that the disciplinary investigation was not acceptable.,” said Father Cyril Gamini.

“In the recent verdicts, we have seen that he was involved in the most severe torture of prisoners and he had to pay compensation. If such a person is in the position of Inspector General of Police, we cannot expect justice and fairness from the police. A person with such a background cannot be accepted as an IGP of a country.” added Father Gamini Fernando.

END.