Lawyers’ Collective concerned over appointing acting IGP while having pending cases

17 December 2023 08:56 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 24 Bookmark

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Colombo, Dec 17 (Daily Mirror) - The Lawyers’ Collective, a prominent legal advocacy group in Sri Lanka, has raised concerns over appointing Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon as the acting IGP while having a number of pending cases against him.

Former President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) Upul Jayasuriya PC questioned as to how the Constitutional Council granted its approval to appoint Deshabandu Tennakoon as Acting IGP when there was a pending case before the Supreme Court for torturing an ex-army soldier.

Jayasuriya raised these concerns during a media conference organised by the Lawyers' Collective on Saturday (16) in Colombo.

While expressing his views regarding the recent Supreme Court judgement, Jayasuriya said that acting IGP Tennakoon had some pending cases while he was appointed to the post, and that he has no public confidence anymore.

He underscored that it is the duty of the Attorney General to frame charges against Deshabandu Tennakoon and others under the Torture Act since they were found guilty of torturing an individual several years ago.

Prof. Savitri Goonesekere questioned under what circumstances this acting IGP was appointed by the President and approved by the Constitutional Council.

The Lawyers' Collective called upon the President and the Constitutional Council to fulfill the public trust
and reiterated that the integrity and eligibility of persons to hold high office in trust for the people should not be confused.

Comments - 24

Christo255 Sunday, 17 December 2023 09:07 PM

Public has no confidence in lawyers as well as police. I rest my case

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Onlooker Monday, 18 December 2023 10:00 AM

Nor do we the public have confidence in the President, CC or the Minister who descend so low as to appoint a human rights violater in two cases within a fortnight as declared by the Supreme Court, as an IGP.

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Gammini Sunday, 17 December 2023 09:18 PM

This guy may be notorious but other Senior DIGs are not angels either. We should follow America and appoint a good criminal Lawyer as the IGP but with fixed term, say four years. American Justice department is investigating the Indian government for murder plots it had planed in America. To this effect the head of the FBI came to India last week for two days, who is he, a former American Lawyer.

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Ramath Sunday, 17 December 2023 09:33 PM

How can this man be IGP when he has been found and charged by the supreme court to violate fundamental human rights? He should be removed.

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Sam Silva Sunday, 17 December 2023 09:45 PM

Having concerns not going to make any difference. We all have concerns of everything that happening in our country but the governing party doesn't care of our concerns. If the lawyers have direct dialog with the person who appointed him, it will be little helpful than showing concerns.

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Loren Sunday, 17 December 2023 09:54 PM

How can a person convicted by the Supreme Court hold the position of IGP?

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Citizen Silva Sunday, 17 December 2023 10:52 PM

Neither the President, the Minister or the acting IGP has any dignity, integrity or selfrespect. So what do you expect.

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Jayantha Sunday, 17 December 2023 11:27 PM

It was corrupted tiran who wanted him as igp. Rw can score some ponts by sacking both.

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Neel.Ahamer Monday, 18 December 2023 01:03 PM

Yes' you are correct ' all three are not with the public trust, all have some on going court cases going on, beside that that Tiran notorious person regarding pandora incident 'our president also " pin " there is no any green light with the police department who will do the country back to law and order.Its reasonable that some of Lawer aginest this appointment on behalf of public

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Independent Monday, 18 December 2023 01:55 AM

Lawyers : Your job is in courts, let the others do their job too without becoming a pain like Bar association!

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Bandu Monday, 18 December 2023 10:53 AM

So let the others do their job. Ha Ha. Have they not done enough to bankrupt us. If no one criticises we will descend to hell with the current lot who are still robbing - even the sick and dying like health ministry.

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Kandiah Balendran Monday, 18 December 2023 02:12 AM

Ranjan said 95% of SL law leeches are corrupt, appearing for murderers, rapists and drug dealers.

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Ram Monday, 18 December 2023 02:41 AM

Lawyers Collective must now take the issue to SC as IG has not stepped down and CC appear to be lethargic in investigating. He must be charged in criminal court for assault/grievous hurt.

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Priyanee Wijesekera Monday, 18 December 2023 05:51 AM

Good to know about their concerns. When a former Chief Justice dragged the judiciary down to the level of the gutter they did not show any concern.

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Sokratis Monday, 18 December 2023 07:48 AM

This country has war criminals, torturers and human rights violators in the highest positions. This is common in a rogue state but not in a democracy.

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Johan Monday, 18 December 2023 08:06 AM

Because he is a relative of Tiran everything is ignored

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sam Monday, 18 December 2023 08:10 AM

He is a convict already

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Waco Monday, 18 December 2023 08:42 AM

All these appointments are illegal , including the appointment of Pin-President. Rouges in the in the Parliament got together and appointed the Biggest Rouge as the President. At the next election if Anura or SF become the President , all these rouges will leave the country.

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Nimal Monday, 18 December 2023 09:07 AM

Although the acting IGP is attempting to make a clear first impression that is just eye-wash. Nothing can erase his sordid misdeeds. Clearly unsuitable for this post although the minister and the pin president thinks otherwise. Where or where are the likes of Aleric Abeygunawardene and Rudra Rajasingham, just to name two.

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dana Monday, 18 December 2023 12:00 PM

What a police force we have in SriLanka, minister and president selected politically bias,human rights violator as best fit to IG post,now he is running around looking for drug dealers and criminals like just joined the police, according to recent media reports, some DIG s education qualifications are questionable, either low quality Indian graduates or appointed on pending results, this could be the reason for their lethargic attitude towards Easter Sunday,intelligence information and investigations later,

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N.N.Perera Monday, 18 December 2023 01:57 PM

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH FIRST COMMNETATOR "CRISTO 255"S COMMENT!

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Dee Monday, 18 December 2023 07:56 PM

How was Madagascar? Good money?

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Observer Monday, 18 December 2023 09:53 PM

IT IS NOT ONLY THE LAWYERS COLLECTIVE BUT THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS QUESTIONING THE APPOINTMENT. THE CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL HAS BECOME A JOKE. LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE POWERLESS UNDER THE DICTATOR. SOME DAY IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE ALL THOSE INVOLVED WILL HAVE TO ANSWER ?

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Dee Tuesday, 19 December 2023 06:24 AM

Madagascar lawyers

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