Next Acting IGP - Pathinayake or Weerasooriya?

Names of several contenders to be appointed as the Acting IGP have come up following the injunction order against IGP Deshabandu Thennakoon yesterday. 

Among the front runners are Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake and Senior DIG Priyantha Weerasooriya who tops the seniority list of the Sri Lanka Police. Pathinayake was enlisted as an Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1998 while Weerasooriya was enlisted in 1999. 

However, Pathinayake’s appointment to the post remains uncertain. He, along with Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena and Deshabandu Thennakoon, faces allegations of dereliction of duty concerning the Easter Sunday attack. Various parties, including the Catholic Church of Sri Lanka, have urged the President to refrain from appointing any of them to the position.

Civil Society groups are already threatening to file Fundamental Rights petitions against Pathinayake if he is appointed to the post.  Weerasooriya, according to reports, is well respected and liked among rank and file. 

Other possible contenders are Senior DIGs Sanjeewa Dharmaratne, Sajeewa Medawatte, W.K. Jayalath, Ranmal Kodituwakku, Rajitha Daminda and Ajith Rohana.