7 May 2021 07:12 pm
Lawyers of DIG Bimshani Jasin-Arachchi, who was removed from her duties as the DIG in charge of the Police Ombudsman Range, has written to IGP C.D. Wickramaratne urging him to immediately reinstate her back to her assigned duties or allocate other suitable duties, a statement from her lawyers said.
The statement said that by an Internal Circular dated March 23, 2021, the IGP had purported to remove DIG Bimshani Jasin-Arachchi from acting in her duties previously delegated to her, in the Police Ombudsman Range with effect from May 1, 2021, failing to assign to her any DIG range or other comparable duties to perform in the capacity of a DIG to date.
Furthermore, her lawyers alleged the staff assigned to her office had been directed to report to another DIG (Staff DIG) from May 4, 2021 which exacerbates her above position which also has a direct adverse bearing on her position in the matters presently being deliberated upon in the FR application bearing No. 354/2020 filed by 33 Male SSPs challenging her said appointment.
"In the circumstances, we have written to the IGP to immediately reinstate our client in appropriate duties said duties, as the DIG Police Ombudsman Range and/or to allocate other suitable duties, with copies to Public Service Commission, the National Police Commission, Ministry of Public Security and Hon. the Attorney-General.
Furthermore, it has now been revealed to our client that although it is claimed that there are 33 Petitioners challenging her appointment in the above FR application No. 354/2020, it is in fact not so, that at least one of those so called Petitioners have not consented to any such action and the petition has been filed without his knowledge; we are instructed to bring these matters to the attention of Court and necessary authorities," the statement said.
IGP C.D Wickramaratne had instructed to remove DIG Bimshani with effect from May 1 in line with the program to regularize the police. Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said that DIG Bimshani would be appointed to a new post by the IGP soon.