Monday Nov 18, 2024
Monday Nov 18, 2024
Thursday, 25 July 2024 04:59 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Deshabandu Thennakoon
Following an emergency cabinet meeting yesterday evening, the Government has decided to announce its stance on the Supreme Court injunction order against Deshabandu Thennakoon, which prevents him from serving as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), in two days.
The special cabinet meeting chaired by President Ranil Wickramasinghe was held last evening at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Government faced a significant setback yesterday when the Supreme Court granted leave to proceed with nine fundamental petitions challenging Thennakoon›s appointment as IGP. The Court also issued an injunction order preventing him from functioning in the post until the cases are concluded.
According to reports, the cabinet discussed the injunction order during the meeting and expressed concerns about its legal implications. It was decided to thoroughly examine the Court ruling, which was received late in the afternoon. The cabinet concluded that more time is needed to respond appropriately and plans to issue a statement within the next two days.
The Court order was issued by a three-judge bench consisting of Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, Justice Achala Wengappuli, and Justice Mahinda Samayawardena.
The petitions were filed by the Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Young Journalists Association and several other groups.
Geoffrey Alagaratnam PC, Upul Jayasuriya PC, Shamil Perera PC, Saliya Pieris PC, Viran Corea PC, Senior Counsel Suren Fernando, Lakshan Dias, Thishya Weragoda and Vinura Kularatne appeared for the petitioners.
Saliya Peiris PC presenting facts before the Court said that it is surprising the Attorney General›s Department itself has requested Deshbandu Thennakoon remain as the IGP despite the Attorney General notifying that Thennakoon should be named as a suspect in the criminal case related to the attack on the Galle Face struggle.
Meanwhile, Suren Fernando PC noted that the Constitutional Council had not duly approved Thennakoon’s appointment as IGP. Accordingly, he argued that President Ranil Wickremesinghe had violated public trust by appointing Thennakoon as the IGP without the due approval of the council.
Counsel Thishya Weragoda told the Courts the Speaker had informed the President of the Constitutional Council’s decision on the appointment in an indirect manner.
Accordingly, the Court issued an injunction order as requested by petitioners and directed for an Acting IGP to be appointed instead.
Thennakoon was appointed as the Acting IGP in December 2023 after months of failing to appoint an IGP in March of that year which was when the former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne was due to retire. Wickramaratne was forced to remain in service until last week, due to the inability of relevant parties to find a suitable candidate for the post.
Thennakoon beat other top contenders for the post which included Senior DIG Administration Nilantha Jayawardena and Senior DIG Central Province Lalith Pathinayake.
However, his appointment came under heavy criticism by the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka and other quarters due to the allegations against him including the dereliction of duty in failing to prevent the Easter Sunday attack despite having the necessary information.
He has also been accused of acting as a security consultant for Sri Lanka Cricket in violation of the Establishments Code and failing to prevent the attack on the Galle Face Green protests on 9 May 2022. The top cop however has denied all allegations against him. He was also assaulted by a group of protestors near the Beira Lake in Colombo on 10 May last year.
