IGP not resigning, Law and Order Ministry to investigate conduct

• Law and Order Deputy Minister says no instructions for IGP to step down
• Says Ministry of Law and Order Secretary to probe IGP and his conduct

 By Skandha Gunasekara

Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara had instructed his Ministry Secretary to initiate a ministerial investigation into the conduct of IGP Pujith Jayasundara and that the IGP had not been asked to resign.

Deputy Minister of Law and Order Nalin Bandara, in response to a question raised by Joint Opposition MP Kanaka Herath, said that his Ministry had received a complaint against the IGP claiming that his conduct was improper for an officer.

“Following the complaint, Minister Madduma Bandara ordered the Ministry Secretary to conduct an inquiry into the IGP and his actions,” Deputy Minister Bandara said, adding that the Secretary was to submit a report on the investigation within a period of two weeks.

The Deputy Minister then said that media reports alleging that the IGP had been asked to resign from his position within two weeks by the President and Prime Minister were false.

“There had been no such request or directive received by the National Police Commission or the Ministry,” the Deputy Minister said.

At this point, Joint Opposition MP Padma Udayashantha Gunasekara said that there were media reports to the effect that President Maithripala Sirisena had ordered the IGP to resign over a telephone conversation.

Deputy Minister Bandara said the Government was not able to comment on what was said during the phone conversation between the President and the IGP as the Government has not tapped their phones.