27 April 2023 09:50 am Views - 659
Several Senior DIGs including Ajith Rohana and Priyantha Weerasooriya who were transferred by the Public Security Ministry under the covering approval of the National Police Commission (NPC) have written to the NPC and the ministry saying that their transfers are illegal and they have not been mentioned any reasons.
Seven Senior DIGs including Lalith Pathinayake, Priyantha Weerasooriya and Ajith Rohana who are competing for the post of Inspector General of Police (IGP) have been transferred due to service requirements by the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security on Monday.
Responding to transfers, Ajith Rohana and Priyantha Weerasooriya requested NPC Chairman Chandra Fernando not to approve the malicious, unreasonable and unjustifiable transfers by Public Security Minister Tiran Alles.
Ajith Rohana alleged that the minister has done all these malicious acts to harass them and to protect a particular SDIG.
Ajith Rohana alleged that the minister has done all these malicious acts to harass them and to protect a particular SDIG. The Senior DIG further said that Minister Alles had summoned him to the minister’s office last week and informed that the South was not under control. “If the minister is correct, I invite the members of NPC to scrutinize and compare crime statistics, shooting incidents and other activities related to the police that happened in the Southern and Western Provinces. The minister does all these malicious acts to harass us and to protect one particular SDIG,” he said. Meanwhile, SDIG Rohana also informed the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security that he is not bound to implement the transfer orders without the approval of the Police Commission. He said according to the law and the Constitution, the NPC has been empowered to transfer police officers and the Commission has not given any authority to approve the transfer of senior DIGs. While stating that the transfer was made under the covering approval of the NPC, Rohana told the secretary, “There is no doctrine of ‘coverage approval’ in the transfer procedure”. “According to Section 56 of the Police Ordinance and in the case of Wijesuriya vs Government NLR 25 of 1974, I am not bound to carry out the illegal orders,” he said. Accordingly, the Senior DIG said that unless the Police Commission approves these transfers, the orders are illegal. He said that he is not bound to execute such illegal orders. Meanwhile, in a letter to NPC Chairman Fernando, the Senior DIG Weerasooriya said that being the Officer-in-Charge of the Province, they are not able to uphold the rule of law properly, and they are unable to plan out strategies to maintain the Law and Order situation in the respective area of responsibility, as the majority of SDIG’s are frustrated and “always on pins.”
He said Senior DIGs are being given transfers with immediate effect without showing cause, merely mentioning that the transfer is on “Exigencies of Service” and cover approval of NPC. “This ad hoc system has created frustration among many officers to perform their duties free and fair to the public. Also I would like to bring to your attention that this practice will badly affect the image of the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, and the solemnity of the office of this rank, and also undervalued among the subordinate as well. Therefore, I vehemently object to this transfer order,” he said.