AG directs criminal, disciplinary action against Police officers for Easter Sunday lapses

• AG writes to Acting IGP to initiate action
• Says studied contents of report of Special Board of Inquiry Appointed to look into terror attacks
• Police officers include 3 DIG, one SSP, one, SP, 2 ASPs & 2 OICs
• Disciplinary action to be referred to National Police Commission
  
   

By Chandani Kirinde

The Attorney General’s Department yesterday directed the Acting IGP to initiate criminal investigations against nine Police officers, including three DIGs, with regards to the lapses on their part due to which the Easter Sunday attacks could not be prevented, or their impact minimised.

The AG’s directive came after he considered the contents of the final report dated 7 June 2019 of the “Special Board of Inquiry Appointed to inquire into the Series of Incidents Related to the Explosions that Occurred at Several Places in the Island on 21 April 2019.”

In a letter addressed to the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana Wickremeratne, the AGs Office said that the Board of Inquiry has recommended that the relevant authorities take suitable criminal and disciplinary action against the officers.

The officers against whom action has been recommended include’: three Deputy Inspector General (Colombo, Western North and SPR), Senior Superintendent of Police – Negombo, Superintendent of Police - Colombo North, two Assistant Superintendent of Police in charge of Negombo III- IV, and the Officers in Charge (OIC)s of the Katana Police Station and the Jampettah Police Post.

 “You are hereby directed to initiate criminal investigations with regard to the lapses on the above officers to prevent/minimise the above attacks. Further, it would be also necessary that the aforesaid recommendations should be referred to the National Police Commission (NPC) for suitable disciplinary action against the above officers,” the AG said in his letter.