Deterioration of police and culpability of political party system

Deshabandu Tennakoon always received favoured treatment during the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa administration. While the government effected cavalier transfers of senior police officers, Tennakoon faced a challenge. Senior DIG Ajith Rohana moved the Supreme Court against his transfer to the Eastern Province. The Supreme Court, in early Sept., 2023, dismissed the fundamental rights petition filed by Ajith Rohana, who served as the SDIG in charge of the Southern Province at that time. The three-judge Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices S. Thurairajah, A.H. M. D. Nawaz and Shiran Gunaratne, accepted the initial objections raised on behalf of the respondents, including the Attorney General dismissing the petition.

- By SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO

The Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security PV. Gunathilake, IGP C.D. Wickramaratne, National Police Commission Chairman Lalith Ekanayake and its members, Western Province Secretary Rohana Rajapaksa, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles and the Attorney General were named as respondents.

In terms of Section 17 of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002, a Resolution presented for the removal of T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon from the post of The Inspector-General of Police was passed by a majority vote in Parliament on August 5, 2025, understandably with the governing party NPP having a steamroller majority in it.

Altogether 177 lawmakers voted for the resolution, whereas one MP (Ramanathan Archchuna) abstained from voting. Forty-seven MPs refrained from taking a stand.

The failure on the part of 47 MPs to take a stand on such a vital issue must be a matter of grave concern and reflects the fact that their consciences did not permit them to take such a decision to go with their party's decision. Most of them represented the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). The SJB leadership should inquire into the circumstances its elected and appointed MPs refrained from voting for the politically charged resolution. It would be pertinent to mention that the ruling National People's Power (NPP) moved the resolution with the backing of the SJB.

Therefore, the absence of so many SJB MPs at the time of voting must receive due consideration.

Three-member Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP/Pohottuwa party) refrained from voting. Having tacitly backed Deshabandu Tennakoon's appointment, the SLPP must have felt embarrassed to vote for the resolution.