• Deshabandu to be the new IGP?  

By Kelum Bandara   

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles is reported to have held discussion with President Ranil Wickremesinghe on the appointment of the next Inspector General of Police (IGP), a matter to be completed ‘very soon’, and it is likely that DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon will be appointed to the post, a source said.   

According to the Constitution, the President is the appointing authority. Mr. C.D. Wickramaratne who served in the post for an extended period retired recently. Earlier, there were reports that the appointment of the IGP was delayed because of differences between the President and the minister on the proposed name.  

 Once the President makes the appointment, it has to be approved by the Constitutional Council, a body headed by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

 Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa are also its members. It is a ten member body including three from civil society.    An informed source said the President and the minister had agreed on the proposed appointment. It is speculated in political circles that Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon is likely to be picked for the post.   Mr. Tennakoon is preferred by both the minister and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) whereas the President is keen on the appointment of Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena. However, Mr. Jayawardena’s name was implicated in the court case involving the Easter Sunday attack.