• Election Commission faces questions on how security will be maintained without IGP

No step had been initiated afresh for the appointment of the next Inspector General of Police (IGP) either in permanent or acting capacity triggering further uncertainty on how the Election Commission will secure police protection for the conduct of the Presidential election to be declared tomorrow, a top source said.  

The Election Commission is, however, determined to proceed with the Presidential election, a process starting from today to be concluded in September.  

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is of the view that he will not get involved in the nomination of another IGP to be vetted by the Constitutional Council of Parliament. Instead, he expressed his views at the special Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that the Supreme Court ruling which barred Deshabandu Tennakoon from functioning as the IGP should be dealt with by Parliament or the Constitutional Council for that matter.  

In the meantime, the Attorney General is also to be consulted on the ruling to proceed with the next course of action.  

In case, the IGP is not appointed and the stalemate continues, the Commission will face confusion as to whom should be contacted for security requirements during the election period including for the printing of ballot papers.  

Article 104C of the Constitution says, “Upon the making of an Order for the holding of an election or the making of a Proclamation requiring the conduct of a Referendum, as the case may be, the Commission shall notify the Inspector-General of Police of the facilities and the number of police officers required by the Commission for the holding or conduct of such election or Referendum, as the case may be.  

(2) The Inspector-General of Police shall make available to the Commission the facilities and police officers specified in any notification made under paragraph (1) of this Article.  

(3) The Commission may deploy the police officers and facilities made available to the Commission in such manner as is calculated to promote the conduct of a free and fair election or referendum, as the case may be.  

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Council will meet today for discussion of the IGP issue. However, some members reportedly hold the view that the Supreme Court ruling should be accepted, and the President should send another name to be considered as the acting IGP.