Motion to remove Deshabandu: NPP says Wijeyadasa's legal concerns unfounded

Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe, and spokesman for Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne, yesterday (01) emphasised that there was absolutely no basis for concerns expressed by former Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, with regard to a resolution handed over by the National People's Power (NPP) parliamentary group seeking the appointment of a committee of inquiry to pave the way for the removal of IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon.

- BY SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO

They said they were going ahead with the motion handed over to the Speaker under Section 5 of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act No. 5 of 2002.

Then President Ranil Wickremesinghe with the blessings of the Constitutional Council appointed Tennakoon as the 36th IGP.

An NPP delegation, led by lawmaker Jayasinghe, handed over the resolution to the Speaker on 25 March. The NPP delegation included Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Eranga Gunasekara and MPs (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne, and Attorney-at-Law U.P. Abeywickrama.

Deputy Minister Jayasinghe said that their move was in line with the procedure in place in respect of removing the IGP and the Attorney General. The NPP acted swiftly in the wake of IGP Tennakoon, wanted in connection with the alleged illegal raid on the W 15 Hotel, at Weligama, surrendering to Matara court.