Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake appointed to oversee Police administrative duties

• Senior Deputy Inspector General Nilantha Jayawardena, who previously held the Senior DIG Admin position, has been placed on compulsory leave

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake has been appointed to oversee the administrative duties of the Sri Lanka Police until further notice, the National Police Commission said.  In the absence of both the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) in charge of Administration, the National Police Commission sought the Attorney General’s advice on whether it had the authority to appoint a Senior DIG (Administration) without the IGP’s recommendation.  

On July 24, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court issued an interim order restraining Deshabandu Tennakoon from functioning as IGP.  

In response to the National Police Commission’s inquiry, the Attorney General indicated that, due to the lack of an acting IGP, the requirement for the IGP’s recommendation does not apply under Article 155U (1) (a) of the Constitution.  
Following this guidance, the National Police Commission met on August 1 and decided to appoint Pathinayake to oversee the administrative duties of the Sri Lanka Police, in addition to his role as SDIG of the Central Province.  
Pathinayake’s appointment aligns with the updated seniority list of the Senior Deputy Inspectors General of the Sri Lanka Police.  Senior Deputy Inspector General Nilantha Jayawardena, who previously held the Senior DIG Admin position, has been placed on compulsory leave as of July 18 pending the outcome of a disciplinary inquiry related to the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.