The rise and fall of the Police Chief

The widely publicized series of recent events connected with the unethical and unseemly conduct of the de-facto IGP  Deshabandu Tennakoon not only painted a sordid, shameful picture of the Sri Lanka Police but undermined very badly whatever little trust and confidence the citizens had on the law enforcement authorities, as well. 

It is well known that despite his tainted and tarnished public image, he was promoted as IGP, purely due to unyielding political influence during President RW’s tenure. However, this controversial appointment was challenged in Supreme Court and subsequently DT was suspended as IGP in July 2024. 

Amidst this saga, IGP Tennakoon, became a fugitive playing ‘Hide and Seek’ with his own subordinates and defied the very system of law and order which he is supposed to uphold, thus making a mockery of the entire Police Dept.! Worse still, let alone being suspended and now in remand custody, it is said that technically DT still remains as the chief of Sri Lanka Police!!  A unique achievement indeed that would readily find a place in the Guinness book of world records!                                                

It is time most opportune for President AKD to rectify this unusual quagmire by requesting the govt. to bring in an impeachment motion against the suspended IGP, which is opined as the only way out. Thereafter, he could either nominate the acting IGP or any other senior DIG, for the approval of the Constitutional Council. The strengthening and steadying the sagging morale of both the concerned citizens and law enforcement personnel is absolutely vital at this juncture, to say the least.

M. R. Pathirage

Kolonnawa