Lawyers’ Collective urges President to terminate Deshabandu’s appointment

21 December 2023 07:35 pm - 33 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Colombo, Dec.21 (Daily Mirror) - The Lawyers’ Collective, a prominent legal advocacy group in Sri Lanka has urged President Ranil Wickremesinghe to immediately terminate the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as Acting IGP in view of the recently delivered Supreme Court judgment.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court in Sumangala v Bandara and Others, unanimously held that respondents, including the incumbent Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, have violated the fundamental rights of a former army soldier to freedom from torture, unlawful arrest, and arbitrary administrative action that denied equal protection of the law. Subsequently, the Supreme Court ordered the National Police Commission (NPC) and other relevant authorities to take appropriate disciplinary action against newly appointed Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon and other police officers.

In an open letter to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Lawyers' Collective draws his attention to the fact that these officers including Deshabandu Tennakoon, have been found liable of acts which in our law amount to a criminal offence under the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Act, No. 22 of 1994.

The Lawyers' Collective is of the view that all police officers found responsible must be

formally charged with the serious crime of torture with immediate effect and they must be suspended from service.

"The office of IGP, and thereby the powers of Acting IGP, can only be directly held accountable by your office as President. Your duty to the people of Sri Lanka is clear, and the only responsible course of action is to terminate the appointment of the said Deshabandu Tennakoon to Acting IGP, refer the judgement to the Attorney General for urgent consideration of serving charges on all found liable, and refer the judgement to the National Police Commission for disciplinary action" the letter added.

The Lawyers' Collective observed that a failure to act amounts to a daily reminder to the public that the President would not implement a judgement of the highest court of the country which has exercised the judicial power of the people under our constitution.

"It is shocking that within days of the judgement that found Deshabandu Tennakoon liable for torture, Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles publicly endorsed Tennakoon’s leadership of the police and even insinuated support for police killings in enforcing Sri Lankas laws on illegal drugs", the letter further added.

On behalf of the Lawyers’ Collective, a group of President’s Counsels including Rienzie Arsecularatne, Upul Jayasuriya, Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, Geoffrey Alagaratnam, M.A. Sumanthiran, Dinal Phillips, Saliya Pieris, S.T. Jayanaga, Nalin Dissanayake, Prof. Savitri Goonesekere, Prof. Deepika Udagama, Prof. Camena Gunaratne, Attorneys-at-law, Upul Kumarapperuma and seven others signed the letter.

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Comments - 33

Gayan Thursday, 21 December 2023 08:29 PM

Harak kata's lawyer is also prominent.

Bandu Thursday, 21 December 2023 11:00 PM

Will a doctor who treats Harak Kata also to be found at fault like a lawyer appearing for him. Remember there is something called professional duty irrespective of the patient or client.

Lion Friday, 22 December 2023 09:27 AM

News says even money has been solicited from Harak Kata by the top rung boys of ukthiya before he was brought from foreign land .

Tissa Fernando Friday, 22 December 2023 10:10 PM

Two already opposed your comment as they are probably getting paid by Harak Kata

Volker Metzger Thursday, 21 December 2023 08:45 PM

As a long-time outside observer, expert and friend of Sri Lanka, I am always surprised, but often shocked, at what is possible politically in this wonderful country that calls itself democratic!!! There is a man, Mr. Tennakoon, promoted to a senior police office who has been found guilty of torture!!! Because of torture!!! This goes beyond normal human comprehension and points directly back to the political leadership, in this case President Ranil Wickremesigne!!! What kind of person, what character, what understanding of law and government is the president of a country who has heard a verdict of torture and does not intervene immediately, withdraws all responsibility from the person found guilty and relieves him of his office and all functions!!!

Rabid Dog Friday, 22 December 2023 01:39 AM

I am indeed surprised that 'As a long-time outside observer, expert and friend of Sri Lanka ' you have not been informed of what goes on in the N

Volker Metzgerv Thursday, 21 December 2023 08:52 PM

This is a political scandal of the first order and unthinkable in any truly democratic state!!! Sri Lanka has been suffering for years from the governments that have plundered the country out of greed for power and self-interest. It can only be saved by its best (!!!), especially in human, intellectual and moral terms!!!

Muthupura Sri Lankan Thursday, 21 December 2023 10:21 PM

Hi Sajith Volker Damn your intervene and interference in to governance of Sri Lanka . You are not a citizen. Go and advice your Chancellor or President to whom to be appointed to Head Police and Armed Forces .Since you are the expert in governing . Fly a kite Mr Metz - sajith

Darco Thursday, 21 December 2023 09:18 PM

Who is NEXT? Be fare

Observer Thursday, 21 December 2023 09:34 PM

RANIL WILL ONE DAY IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE BE IN THE DOCK TO EXPLAIN HIS ACTIONS ? DOES HE NOT KNOW THAT ?

Dee Thursday, 21 December 2023 10:04 PM

Madagascar!

Jayantha Thursday, 21 December 2023 11:14 PM

Leta see how imf act. If imf is genuine they should be able to force rw to terminate both thia guy and offshore tiran. Appoint people with decent background specially for legal posts otherwise people may take law in to hands.

We want criminals out Friday, 22 December 2023 01:51 AM

Against Operation Yukthiya

Karan Friday, 22 December 2023 01:58 AM

Then,How did Gotta become President? Underworld grop is working hard throug Laweyers association to save them.

Dean Friday, 22 December 2023 02:00 AM

Tsunami money Thief became srilanka 's wonderful president

L Jaya Friday, 22 December 2023 02:11 AM

This is the way SL operates, all the voices fall on deaf ears. They invert rules at will.

Sivalingam Friday, 22 December 2023 02:39 AM

The lawyers appearing for drug dealers have panicked.

Kandiah Balendran Friday, 22 December 2023 02:41 AM

These lawyers should be tax audited, maybe some of the drug money is hidden with these leeches.

Sonipal Kalawalli Friday, 22 December 2023 03:37 AM

This man wants all corrupt people and will never terminate this appointment! See Kappam Thunga, Paga Pala, Hora Myna, Katupu Natha, ........

London Perera Friday, 22 December 2023 03:55 AM

Mr Tennakoon is not suitable for the IGP post because he is related to Good Friday attacks in Sri Lanka. And he is Rajapaksas, who destroyed Sri Lanka economy, henchman. He releases a lorry full of ammunitions for good Friday attacks. Therefore he is not a good Police officer!

Ram Friday, 22 December 2023 04:03 AM

Open letters are useless. Address the letter to President requesting a reply. No reply means President agree with the contents of the letter. Take the issue back to SC in the same FR case for failure to comply with SC order/directions

Ismet Zaheed Friday, 22 December 2023 05:11 AM

Ranil Rajapakse cares two hoots of what people say. He is an appointed M.P. (Molay P.....) and has no mandate to rule!

Nimal Friday, 22 December 2023 06:43 AM

Both Alles and Deshabandu are now engaged in a campaign to white wash themselves. What a farce? With such serious charges brought against them they are clearly unsuitable to hold these posts that they now hold, and what a pin president we have.

sl Friday, 22 December 2023 07:15 AM

This country has three columns of power: the President, the Parliament, and the Court. If police exert judicial powers, it simply violates the country's constitution. So this chief must be in jail!

Sd Friday, 22 December 2023 10:00 AM

Bullshit!

Roger Halliday Friday, 22 December 2023 07:54 AM

All these jokers holiest tradition is to aqqire wealth by any means, they will sell their mothers children, if it gives them the gold medal which is money. They travel in the most luxurious vehicles live in the best accommodation on tax payers money. No other devoped country give them all these. Only mother Lanka.

Seqi Friday, 22 December 2023 11:02 AM

Nimal.... They use skin whitening creams and beautifying apps.

Gamini Friday, 22 December 2023 11:22 AM

Tsunami fund robber becomes the President. Then the bank robber becomes the President without getting elected. These are minimum qualifications in paradise for reaching the top

sam Friday, 22 December 2023 12:52 PM

Deshabandu is already a convict. Why wait for more court decisions?

Desabandu Friday, 22 December 2023 01:30 PM

THE OPEN LETTER OF THE LAWYER'S COLLECTIVE MAY HAVE NOT STILL REACHED THE PRESIDENT AS OUR POSTAL SERVICE IS VERY SLOW .THAT IS WHY THERES NO RESPONSE SO FAR ?

Lion Friday, 22 December 2023 03:44 PM

The whole country saw how this man was conversing with Oxigon Nishantha before setting of the thugs of Mina’s camp to take on the Aragalaya youth at gall face green. It’s a dam disgrace to be given the IGP post in this country. The country which saw a man who has no public support what so ever becoming the president of the country with the support of 131 rouges in the parliament is not surprising to have him until both of them are thrown out in the next year.

Tissa Fernando Friday, 22 December 2023 05:48 PM

Lawyers are trying to protect their business interests. They will now try through human rights commission too. The government should cancel their lawyer license if they are protesting on behalf of the underworld criminals. Representing them is a professional duty but protesting against an operation to catch the criminals is a criminal offence.

ANNECUNT Saturday, 23 December 2023 03:01 AM

namal rajapaksa gives recomendation letters for high level appointments on parliment letter heads

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Lawyers’ Collective urges President to terminate Deshabandu’s appointment

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