Removal of an IGP, a first for Sri Lanka

• People’s trust towards the Police force has deteriorated to a greater extent. There was a point in time when people in khaki uniforms were respected for their services

Sri Lanka is in the process of witnessing the removal of an Inspector General of Police (IGP). The decision to remove IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon came about when he was found guilty of serious allegations by a constitutionally appointed Committee of Inquiry, setting the stage for an unprecedented parliamentary vote on his removal. According to Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, “this is the first time in the history of the Republic of Sri Lanka that such a committee has submitted its findings recommending the removal of an Inspector General of Police under the provisions of the law enacted by Parliament”.
A resolution to appoint the Committee of Inquiry for the removal of Deshabandu Tennakoon from his position as IGP due to alleged misconduct and abuse of power was passed in Parliament on April 08. The Committee, comprising Supreme Court Justice Padman Surasena (Chairman), Court of Appeal Justice Neil Iddawala, and National Police Commission Chairman Lalith Ekanayake, unanimously concluded that the IGP was guilty as charged under Section 8.2 of the Act. The findings, announced by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, were revealed following a thorough investigation conducted under the Removal of Officers Procedure Act No. 5 of 2002. 
Tennakoon was served a charge sheet containing 22 charges, and he appeared before the Committee on May 18. The 22 charges he faced include the shooting near the W15 Hotel in Weligama on December 31, 2023, and the death of an officer from the Colombo Crime Division in the shootout there as well as an assault at the Aragalaya protest site at Galle Face Green on May 9, 2022. He also faced a charge of evading summons to appear before court in relation to the Weligama shooting incident.
The removal of an IGP must follow the procedure outlined in the aforementioned Act, which was certified on March 26, 2002. This Act establishes a structured and transparent process for the dismissal of high-ranking officials, including the IGP. It was published as a supplement to the Gazette on March 27, 2002, and aims to ensure accountability and due process for officers appointed to key positions listed in Part II of the Schedule to Article 41C of the Constitution.
The Act specifies eight grounds on which the IGP may be removed from office. These include insolvency, ill-health, criminal conviction, misconduct or corruption, abuse of power, neglect of duty, partiality and/or loss of citizenship. 
However, the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon to the position of IGP sparked much controversy. His track record included complaints of human rights violations, found guilty of torture by the Supreme Court and subjected to disciplinary action while he was serving as acting IGP. There were nine petitions filed in the Supreme Court against the appointment of IGP Tennakoon to the highest position in the police. But despite Supreme Court orders, the then government insisted that Tennakoon would hold office, threatening the fundamentals of a democratic state. 
Over the years, people’s trust towards the Police force has deteriorated to a greater extent. There was a point in time when people in khaki uniforms were respected for their services. But when officials in its hierarchy engage in corruption and abuse of power, it’s natural for such traits to trickle down to other officers who look up to their seniors. 
Today, the entire police force requires a facelift. In addition to recruiting new officers, they need to be empowered to return to their former glory. There was a point in time when being accepted to the Police force was a milestone in the life of anybody who had a passion to maintain law and order in the country. But today, except for a handful of officers who remain true to the motto of the Police department, many others consider it a mere job. 
Perhaps, the removal of a corrupt high-ranking officer in the Police force is the first step in the right direction. After all, police officers should aspire to go up the ranks rather than becoming infamous for corruption, abuse of power, neglect of duty, or being charged with criminal conviction. 

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